Imphal, August 12: Eighteen persons have been admitted to RIMS Hospital today following confrontation with security personnel at various places during agitations demanding withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, punishment of Thangjam Manorama Devi�s killers and shifting of Assam Rifles from Kangla.

The injuries were caused mainly by tear gas bursting, rubber bullet firing and baton/rifle butt charge while an elderly woman from Sanakeithel was admitted due to fainting, informed Helpline Unit, RIMS Hospital.

The incidents took place Iroisemba, Keisampat, Thangmeiband, Sanakeithel, Imphal West DC complex, Uripok and Bishnupur district.

One person from Kongba nandeibam Leikai has also been admitted at JN Hospital for rubber bullet injury treatment.

Even as various forms of agitation was organized at Bishnupur district today to demand withdrawal of the Act from Manipur a sizeable number of women protestors were dispersed by the district police personnel.

The protestors comprising of women body members from Bishnupur, Ngaikhong, Toubul, Khoijuman, Kwasiphai, Nachou, Kha-Potsangbam and Upokpi areas were marching to the district headquarters police station as part of the court arrest agitation.

However, the security personnel halted the protestors coming from Upokpi side at near Nachou Panthong and fired rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse them with similar action against those women protestors marching towards the same destination from Ngaikhong area.

During the skirmishes at the Nachou Panthong area a man was also severely thrashed by the securitymen provoking retaliation from the lone man who pelted stones.

He was subsequently arrested.

All the district headquarters shopowners downed shutters during the protest agitation with vehicular traffic also coming to a standstill at the particular moment.

In solidarity with the ongoing movement students of Brighter School, Comprehensive School, Oinam Boys and Girls� High School located at Oinam bazar area staged sit-in-protest.

Inter district passenger bus operators along with owners also staged protest at Nambol bazar by lining up their vehicles.

Meanwhile, at Sangaiprou area teaching staffs of Little Flower School staged sit-in-protest at its school gate.

Expressing solidarity to the civil disobedience movement called by the Working Committee of the 32 voluntary organizations, partial bandh was observed in various and dharnas were observed in various parts of the State today.

At Uripok-Kangchup, meira paibis belonging to several organizations imposed a 13 hr hour general strike in the area within its jurisdiction.

Protesters blocked roads by putting logs, stones, water pipes and other materials on the road thereby making vehicular movements on the said road almost impossible.

Police personnel had to also resort to firing rubber bullets and tear gas shells in their bid to disperse the protesters who were threatening to get out of control.

Some of the protester were even caught and made to clear the road by the security personnel.

Protesters also set up road blocks at the Keishampat-Wahengbam Leikai by putting cement bags filled with mud and broken glasses.

The protesters were finally dispersed by security personnel at around 1 pm by firing rubber bullets and tear gas shells.

Similar bandhs were also observed at Tiddim road and Lamphel area.

Meanwhile, women folks numbering about 2000 belonging to several women organizations staged a sit in protest at Lairenkabi today demanding for immediate removal of AFSPA and punishment to the killers of Thangjam Manorama and pastor Jamkholet Khongsai.

The women agitators belonged to Lamlongei Meira Paibi Apunba Committee, Apunba Nupi Lup Lairenkabi, Sanjenbam Meira paibi Lup, Mayeng Apunba Nupi Lup, Singda Kadangbunda Part I Meira paibi Lup Tera Urak Meira paibi Lup, Singda Awang Leikai Meira pabi Lup and Tera Urak Makha Leikai Nupi Lup.

Govt Hindi Teachers' Training College and Govt Hindi Teachers' Training Institute students jointly staged a sit in protest at the College's Gate today.

Placards reading "Remove AFSPA from the State", "punish killers of Manorama" etc were put up during the protest.

At Porompat PDA Shopping Complex, students and teaching staffs of Bal Vidya Mandir Kongpal and Diana English School Porompat conducted a sit in protest denouncing the brutal killing of Th Manorama and demanding for removal of AFSPA.

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