CPI calls dawn to dusk bandh today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 20 2013:
Putting forward various demands including repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, CPI, Manipur State Council carried out a mass rally here today.
The protest rally, however, was foiled by State police forces through use of tear gas to disperse the rallyists.
In the police action, one CPI activist sustained injuries.
He has been admitted to RIMS.
Reacting against the undemocratic manner in which the police fired tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the peaceful rallyist, thus causing injury one of the CPI activist as well as in protest against the indifferent attitude of the State Government to the various demands raised by the party, CPI, Manipur State Branch has called a State wide bandh from 5 am to 5 pm tomorrow.
Participated by hundreds of CPI activists from different parts of the State, who started gathering since early morning, the rally commenced from Irabot Bhawan at around 12:30 pm today.
From Irabot Bhavan, they were proceeding towards BT road when the police blocked them from going ahead.
The protestors forcefully made their way along BT road.
At that point of time, police started firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the rallyists.
The CPI activist who sustained injuries in the police action has been identified as Maibam Sanahanbi of Wangjing Tentha.He has been admitted to RIMS for treatment.
Even thought the rallyists were bombarded with tear gas shells and smoke bombs by the police, they did not leave the area and made themselves comfortable sitting down along the side of BT road.
Ex-Minister N Mangi, CPI State Secretary Dr M Nara, ex-Secretary Langol Iboyaima, ex-MLA Tomba, etc, were among other CPI leaders who were present in staging the protest.
Afterward, reinforcement of State police arrived and pulled up the rallyists in two trucks.
They were later released at Ningombam along Imphal Airport road.
The demands put forward by CPI, Manipur State Unit included repeal of AFSPA, re-implementation of ILP in the State, to root out the menace of drugs in the State, to initiate peace talk with all the UG groups unconditionally, setting up of Highway Protection Force, enacting a law to prevent blockades along NHs of the State, to stop privatization policy in Health and Power sector, to ensure availability of rice to the people at Rs 2 per kg and to set up Fast Track Courts for speedy trial of cases relating to crimes against women.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest rally, Dr M Nara stated that the Congress Government has failed to take up any welfare schemes for the people.
There are no safe drinking water facilities or sufficient electricity supply.
The condition of roads is worst.
People of the State are suffering like hell in the hands of the Congress Government.
Considering all these failures of the State Government and its inability to fulfill the demands of the people and also against the undemocratic way in which the police fired tear gas shells and smoke bomb to disperse the rallyists, CPI has called a dawn to dusk statewide bandh tomorrow.
Meanwhile, CPI (M), Manipur State and All India Forward Block, Manipur State Unit has endorsed the bandh called by CPI, Manipur State Unit.
Comment
