DESAM storms CM's bungalow
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 05 2018: Student leaders and volunteers of the Democratic Student's Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) courted arrest and stormed the Chief Minister's bungalow today, decrying the alleged harassment of their family members and the constant search for DESAM volunteers and leaders at their respective houses by State police personnel to arrest them in connection with vandalizing NSU office on June 1.The incident happened all of a sudden when volunteers and leaders of DESAM, numbering around 60 stormed the Chief Minister's bungalow, which is located in one of the highest security zones of the State, at around 4 pm today, by holding banners and placards demanding mass Court arrest.

Soon after the incident, a large number of Imphal West district police personnel rushed to the spot and prevented the volunteers and leaders from marching closer towards the main entrance gate of the bungalow.

A scuffle took place between the police personnel and DESAM volunteers and some leaders were arrested by the police while the others were pushed back from the spot.

The arrested students' leaders were taken to Imphal PS and detained for more than an hour.

According to a senior police officer of Manipur police, altogether 28 volunteers of DESAM, including their president Salam Akash, were detained by the police in connection with the incident.

The detained volunteers and leaders of DESAM were later shifted from Imphal PS to the police station of Imphal West district, at around 5 pm in prisoner vans.

Speaking to media persons, general secretary of DESAM, Sheetal Oinam said that after observing World Environment Day at Unity Park, Thoubal, DESAM took out a protest rally up to Thoubal SP complex to court arrest.

Thoubal district police stopped them and later the students came to Imphal and stormed the Chief Minister's bungalow courting arrest of DESAM volunteers, he said.

He continued that DESAM has repeatedly urged State Government not to establish the National Sports University in the State just for namesake.

DESAM had also submitted memos to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to make NSU a full fledged university but despite their demand and the memos submitted, the interview for the three most important courses of the University is scheduled to be held on June 11 at another State.

Alleging that the State Government is trying to tarnish the reputation of DESAM in front of the public, Sheetal claimed that the Government is using the State police to try and arrest the volunteers and leaders of DESAM instead of trying to bring a solution to the issue at hand.

He further alleged that the State police personnel carried out search at the houses of the volunteers/leaders and also threatened to arrest then-parents.

Strongly condemning the act of the Government and the police, he said that if the State Government thinks arresting leaders and volunteers of the student body will bring a solution to the NSU issue and will make the National Sport University a full fledged university, then they are ready to court arrest.

As per the decision, the mass court arrest agitation was carried out in front of CM bungalow today, led by DESAM president Salam Akash and other office bearer, who were arrested by police today.

However, Sheetal warned that if the arrest of DESAM leaders and volunteers fails to, bring any kind of solution to the issue, then the State Government will have to bear the responsibility for any kind of unwanted incident which arises in the future.

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