Students clash with police over ILP issue
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19 2016:
Students of Manipur College, Singjamei clashed with Manipur Police personnel as the students tried to take out aprotest rally from the college towards the Chief Minister's bungalow today around 1 pm demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the State.
Reports culled from the spot indicated that a large number of students from the college tried to march towards the Chief Minister's bungalow but were stopped by police at Chingamakhong Traffic Island resulting in the clash.
In the tussle, window panes of SSS Computers were completely damaged after student protesters hurled stones and a moped, Mahindra Duro (Reg.
no.MN 01Z 8205) parked in front of Urban Health Centre,
Singjamei Chingamathak was severely damaged after a tear gas shell exploded on it.
Eleven students including seven girls and four boys suffered injuries when police
fired several rounds of tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse the agitating students.
Two students namely Nameirakpam Leevinson and Yumnam Kishorechandra of Manipur College were arrested by police.
Among the injured, Lukram Joshila sustained scratches.
In the scuffle, OC of Singjamei Police Station N Ingocha sustained injury on his left leg after a stone hurled at the police hit him.
Two police booths opened near the traffic island were ransacked by the students.
Later Singjamei-Pishum road was blocked and students again staged a protest rally along Mayai Lambi and marched up to Khagempalli.
There a large number of police personnel stopped the agitating students and they fired several rounds of tear gas shells.
Similar protests were staged at Imphal College, Model Junior High School of Sagolband and also in various parts of Thoubal demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur, according to reports.
It may be mentioned that the Student Wing of JCILPS has threatened to launch a series of protests if the State Government fails to draft a new ILPS Bill as proposed by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System and introduce it in the State to save the native/ indigenous people of Manipur.
Meanwhile, the JCILPS Students' Wing has condemned the alleged excesses committed by police on students of Manipur College who were taking out a mass rally in support to the popular demand for enactment of a Constitutional safeguard for protection of the indigenous people of Manipur.
Speaking to media persons at the JCILPS office of Sega Road, Konjeng Hazari Leikai this evening, Students' Wing convenor Moirangthem Luxman said that police unleashed brute force upon the students as if the students were their enemies.
Brute force can never suppress the mass movement.
Demanding unconditional release of the two students arrested by police, Luxman said that they would be compelled to launch more intense modes of agitation if the students are not released.
He said that the Students' Wing support the demand of JCILPS to convene a special session of the State Assembly bv September 21 so as to pass a fresh Bill which can effectively protect the indigenous peoples of Manipur.
One L Ruhit who took part in the protest rally said that policemen thrashed the students including girls at Chingamakhong during the course of the rally.
As agreed between the students and police, the rally which passed through Pishumthong bridge should go till Keishamthong but it was blocked by police even before the students reached Khagempalli.
There the students were baton charged and driven back, Ruhit said.