MSF, JD-U condemn police action
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 26 2014 :
Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) has come out strongly against the brutal police crack down on young students who were demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit System in Manipur in democratic manner.
Speaking to media persons at their Keishamthong Top Leirak office this evening, MSF president Kh Serajuddin said that the brutality shown by police was a matter of serious concern.
The audacity shown by Manipur Police in thrashing, kicking and abusing students with vulgar and humiliating language clearly reflected their outlook with regard to civilian populace of the State.
The movement is for all the indigenous people of Manipur including police personnel.
It is strange that they (police personnel) cannot understand this obvious fact.
The brutality shown by police was only inviting further intensification of the civil movement.
The Government's decision to close down schools and colleges of Imphal West and Imphal East district is absurd, Serajuddin said.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Manipur has also condemned in the strongest term the brute force unleashed by Manipur Police against students who were demanding implementation of ILPS in the State.
Addressing media persons at their Babupara office today, JD-U Manipur president M Tombi remarked that the mass movement for ILPS was a spontaneous one aimed at protection the identities of the indigenous people.
But what police did to the students was akin to suppression of Indian by British rulers with boots and belts during the colonial era, Tombi said.
Use of weapons inside schools, thrashing young students mercilessly with an intention to kill them and subsequent closure of educational institutions would not solve the issue.
The Chief Minister in his capacity as the House leader should take up the issue in the State Assembly before the ongoing session is over.
Questioning if the 60 MLAs think that the mass movement is unjustified, Tombi said that the 60 MLAs should be held accountable in case the indigenous people get overwhelmed by immigrants.
The Government should rein in their police force.
Apart from unleashing brute force upon students, police even confiscated camera from a journalist even though media are universally accepted as the fourth pillar of democracy.
Pledging support from the side of JD-U, Tombi appealed to the student community to carry on the agitation in democratic manner.