Imphal, July 29: Over a hundred people were injured when a confrontation between State police, Rapid Action Police Force and rallyists, who had come out in full strength to take part in the rally, turned ugly forcing the security personnel to fire tear gas shells, rubber bullets and mockery bombs.

The rally was finally staged along the route charted out by the Government earlier and the public meeting which followed at Khuman Lampak main stadium resolved that if the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is not withdrawn within 24 hours, effective from 3 pm today, the people will resort to Court arrest all over.

Earlier, things took an ugly turn as information started filtering in that the police had stopped protestors from other districts to proceed towards THAU ground at Thang-meiband, where the rally was supposed to kick off.

Following this, the organisers of the rally were forced to announce that the rally would be called off and instead a public meeting would be held at THAU ground.

However this did not pacify the incensed people and only added to their ire and frustration.

Shortly later, a number of protestors, trooped out of THAU ground with festoons and banners and tried to barge their way through Khoyathong side, which was announced off limit, by the Government earlier.

Police personnel and Rapid Action Police Force personnel deployed on duty then fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse the advancing crowd.

The protestors retaliated with stones and catapults.

The stand off lasted for about one hour and later the protestors decided to take the route charted out by the Government earlier.

Even as the pitched battle was raging at Thangmeiband, thousands of people from Heingang side came towards THAU ground to take part in the rally.

The rallyists were however stopped by the police at Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak and were later directed towards Dingko road.

Another stand off occurred even as the rallyists were proceeding towards Khuman Lampak along Minuthong, the route spelt out by the Government.

The protestors, still incensed over the action of the police, then started dismantling the barricades put up by the police on the road.

Here again the security personnel reacted with tear gas and rubber bullets, dispersing the protestors.

Quite a number of youth were seen jumping into the Imphal river and swimming to the other side of the river bank.

The situation was defused with the arrival of leaders of the 32 organisations who asked the police to stop their action with the assurance that they would control the protestors.

Thereafter the rallyists proceeded towards Khuman Lampak main stadium, where a public meeting was held.

Before the meeting started, a two minute silence was observed to pay respect to all the departed souls who died due to the atrocities of the security personnel acting under the AFSPA.

A four point resolution was adopted after the public meeting which included, mass Court arrest if the AFSPA is not lifted within 24 hours from the State, fitting punishment of the security personnel responsible for killing Pastor Jamkholet Khongsai and punishment of the personnel involved in eliminating Th Manorama after arrest.

The meeting further resolved that the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup will be handed the responsibility of charting out future course of action and reiterated that the agitation will continue until the demands are met.

Three MLAs, S Natum of the MNC, I Hemochandra of the FPM and L Ibomcha also of the FPM took part in the rally which was participated by thousands of people.

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