Burning of effigies marks daily protest
Passenger vehicles stay off Imphal-Ukhrul road
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 06 2009: Passenger service vehicles plying along the Imphal-Ukhrul road today joined the ongoing protest against the detention of five students under National Security Act (NSA) by staying off the road.

The passenger service associations concerned showed solidarity to the demand of the DESAM for unconditional release of volunteers of the student bodies detained under NSA.

Effigy of the state chief minister was also burnt by a group of women at Lamlai bazar after staging a sit-in demonstration this afternoon demanding unconditional and immediate release of the student leaders.

Women protesters shouting slogans at Lamlai bazar while a man prepares to light an effigy

Groups of women at various localities and students of various schools across the four valley districts also continued to stage sit-in-protest in their respective localities and schools on the same demand.

Bodies of different passenger services jointly decided to stay off the road for the day in solidarity with DESAM demanding unconditional release of the leaders of the student bodies who had been booked under NSA.

Police arrested the students in connection with the killing of Prof Md Islamuddin on May 25 on the campus of MU.

Owing to the suspension of the services, passengers who were to travel to their respective destinations along the route faced immense difficulties. Five volunteers of two student bodies, Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) were detained by the authority under NSA on the charge of having nexus with and being activists of underground outfits.

At Yourbung in Lamlai area, womenfolk of area under the banner of the Ema Thambal Nupi Lup staged a sit-in demonstration with the slogans "Don't try to treat student bodies as undergrounds, don't try to eliminate student bodies, released detained students etc.

were displayed.

Members of the Lamlai Chalou Nupi Lup also staged the protest at Lamlai Bazar in which they strongly protesting the detention of the student volunteers burnt down the effigy of the chief minister O Ibobi.

Students of the Ananda Singh Academy also boycotting their class for the day staged sit-in protest in front of their school.

Protests were also carried out by the members of the Pureiromba Keithel Nupi Seba Lup, brahmapur Aribam Leikai Nupi Lup, Liwa Ideal Women Association, Kwakeithel Lamdong Nupi Lup, Nganapi Thong Nupi Lup, Thoubal Wangjing nupi Lup, Wangkhei Nupi Lup and Khongjom Bazar Nupi Lup etc.

at their respective places.