For second time in two days DESAM storms CM's bungalow
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06 2018:
Volunteers of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) stormed the CM's bungalow again today and police had to arrest many of the volunteers before releasing them at Malom.
Courting arrest, after many leaders and volunteers of DESAM were arrested yesterday in connection with the protest demanding conversion of National Sports University to a full fledged university and to refrain from establishing any outlying campuses until the university becomes full fledged, a large number of DESAM volunteers tried to storm the CM's bungalow at around 1.30 pm today.
The volunteers, led by DESAM vice president Birchandra Wahengbam, began collecting in front of Head Post Office from various directions before attempting to storm the CM's bungalow.
When the volunteers began crossing the road median to reach the CM's office, a team of Imphal West district police blocked their path.
Blocked from going further, the volunteers raised various slogans like 'Trans- form NSU into a full fledged university', 'Do not involve politics in sports' etc.
Not long after, a additional police team led by Additional SP L Priyadarshini arrived at the spot and the women police personnel began snatching the banners and placards held by the women volunteers of DESAM.
The police lathi charged and pushed back the protesters to Keishampat.
They were then herded onto a vehicle and then released far away at a ground at Malom.
On the other hand, another group of DESAM volunteers who tried to storm the CM's bungalow from Imphal East district at around the same time, were prevented from going any further by Imphal East district police in front of CC Higher Secondary School.
A large number of Imphal East district police personnel, including women police personnel, led by Additional SP N Kumarjit, was seen deployed near CC Higher Secondary School to prevent any kind of unwanted incident.
Volunteers of DESAM who came from Palace Gate side towards the CM's bungalow were stopped by police near CC Higher Secondary School main entrance gate.
A heated argument ensued between the police and the protesting students at the spot as the students demanded the authority to arrest them if the issue of NSU will be solved by arresting them (DESAM Volunteers) A scuffle took place between the agitating volunteers and the police personnel when the DESAM volunteers tried to overpower the police and march towards the CM's bungalow.
However, the volunteers were forced to turn back by the large number of police.
On the other hand, president of the students' organisation, along with five others, have been remanded to police custody till June 11.According to a source, they were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal East today evening by a team of Imphal PS in connection with vandalising the National Sports University's Administration Block located at Manipur Olympic House, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex on June 1.The source mentioned that said that out of the 31 volunteers and leaders of DESAM who were detained by Imphal PS yesterday following the students' body mass court arrest protest demonstration in front of the Chipf Minister's bungalow, five of them, including DESAM president and vice president were detained while the rest were released.
The source said that yesterday the volunteers and leaders of DESAM who were detained by the police were sent to Patsoi PS in the evening and from there most of the volunteers were released yesterday itself after necessary verification was conducted to identify those allegedly involved in vandalising NSU Administration Block, while five of them were detained further.
It may be mentioned that a suo moto case had been registered at Imphal PS in connection with the incident at National Sports University's Administrative Block.
Leaders and volunteers of DESAM who were taken into police custody of Imphal PS, are identified as DESAM president Salam Akash, vice president Nameirakpam Edison, Huidrom Johnson, Leishungbam Rajesh, Aribam Ronald and Abujam Meiraba.
Later in the evening, DESAM and the State Government signed a five point MoU.
Speaking to media persons in front of the CM's office after signing the MoU today evening, DESAM secretary general Oinam Sheetal said that Chief Minister N Biren Singh listened to the grievances laid down by DESAM and assured to take up necessary steps after proper consultation with all the stakeholders involved.
He continued that the Chief Minister opined that the present protest and the issues surrounding NSU will create a bad image for the State and will also hamper the works regarding NSU.
However, the CM assured that the State Government is considering the demands put forward by DESAM including opening of all Departments at the NSU Manipur campus.
Sheetal said that the CM also informed DESAM representatives that the scheduled June 11 interview for the outlying campuses at Lucknow has been postponed.
An official notification towards this has been issued today.
It was also agreed that the arrested volunteers of DESAM would be released without any conditions tomorrow, but the Said agreement is not included in the MoU, he added.
The MoU was signed between the secretary general of DESAM and the OSD to Chief Minister Sumant Singh.
YAS Minister Letpao Haokip, Education Minister Th Radheshyam and Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian were also present at the meeting.
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