Apunba Lup's bid to submit memorandum to Governor foiled
Police thwart rallies
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 10 2009: At least five persons were injured and five others were picked up by the police today while dispersing the protest rally organised by the JAC of Khurai and the Apunba Lup, a conglomerate of many civil organizations protesting the July 23 fake encounter at Khwairamband market where Ch Sanjit and Rabina Devi, a pregnant woman were killed.

Hundreds of protesters, mostly youths and women fought running battles with the police at Khurai Lamlong and other places in Imphal.

The Apunba Lup's plan for submitting memorandum to the Governor of Manipur however could not be fulfilled even though attempts were made by organising rallies at various places.

Rallyists run helter skelter as police fire tear gas shells,while a man and a woman fall down on the street

Police fired two tear gas shells towards the house of the slain Chungkham Sanjit at Khurai Sajor Leikai while protesters confronted with a large combined force of police commandos, IRB and BSF.

The police fired tear gas shells and some rounds of rubber bullets while some protesters replied with shots of marbles from slings.

At least five agitators, four youths and a woman were badly beaten up by the police commandos while another five youths were picked up for allegedly violating the curfew and taking part in the protest rallies at various places in Imphal and its outskirt areas.

Following the announcement of the Apunba Lup's plan to submit memorandum to the Govenor around 11 am today, security was extraordinarily tightened up near Raj Bhavan and Chief Minister's official bungalow.

No one was allowed to proceed from Sanjenthong, Moirangkhom, Keishampat and Kangla western gate towards the Chief Minister's official bungalow and the Raj Bhavan.

Even those holding curfew pass issued by the District Magistrate were stopped from proceeding further at the points mentioned above.

However, media persons and people in medical service were allowed to pass.

Defying the curfew, protesters turned out at many places in greater Imphal areas to organise rallies and take part in submitting memorandum to the Governor.

The protesters clashed with the police who resorted to firing tear gas shells, rubber bullets and baton charge at several places.

At Khurai area, several hundreds of people took out a rally towards Lamlong Bazar with a view to heading towards the Raj Bhavan in the heart of the state capital to submit memorandum to the Governor.

But police dispersed the rally by firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets towards the protesters.

In the police action two youths received injuries while police picked up three of them after a brief clash.

Many of them also sustained minor injuries when dispersed with no direction amidst showers of tear gas shells and rubber bullets that rocked the sky.

A team of police commandos allegedly fired two tear gas shells towards the house of deceased Sanjit at Khurai Kongpal Sajor Leikai this afternoon at about 1.30 pm.

The police team was reportedly led by the SP, Imphal east.

Sanjit's mother strongly condemned the act of police and asked whether police wants to kill all members of the family or threatening to suspend the mass agitation.

People gathering at house at the time of firing the shell strongly condemned the act of the police and stated it's the act which police are to do.

As the sharda ceremony of Sanjit is yet to be performed, some people always gathered at the house bereaved family.

In police action to disperse another rally at Singjamei area three protestors including a woman and two youths sustained severe injuries in police lathi-charged them.

Police also foiled another rallies at Lamlai along the Imphal-Ukhrul road.

One of the rallies originated from Yaingangpokpi bordering between Imphal east and Ukhrul district was dispersed by firing tear gas when the rally reached Napetpali near Lamlai police station.

Police picked up one youth who allegedly lead the rally.

Another rally on the same route at Pungdongbam was also foiled.

Anguish rallyists later blocked the road by burning debris and tyres.

They also burnt down effigies of the chief minister, O Ibobi Singh, DGP, Y Joykumar and police commando personnel.

Lamshang police also foiled a slogan shouting rally originated from Lamshang Bazar and marched towards Imphal side on the Imphal-Kangchup road by firing tear gas shells before reaching the Lamshang police station.

Amidst the police resistant, some womenfolk entered to the police station and insisted the OC to allow them proceed upto Raj Bhavan and submit a memorandum but the OC refused it down.

Helpless to the refusal of the OC, the womenfolk submitted the memorandum to the OC with a request to furnish onward to the Governor.

Another rally originated from Chingmeirong area and marched towards the Raj Bhavan was also blocked by the police at Khoyathong and dispersed.

At Nambol also, effigy of the chief minister was burnt down with shouting slogans against the chief minister.

At other places, protestors attacked with slingshots with the police firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets.

The clash continued till late evening.