Meira rallies blaze Manipur valley
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2009: Responding to the call of the Apunba Lup, meira (torch) rallies were taken out in different parts of the valley districts last night against the twin killings at Khwairamband market on July 23 .

The meira rallies were more charged in Imphal West and Imphal East districts.

Nevertheless, similar rallies were taken out in Bishnupur district too.

But in many areas of greater Imphal, police either blocked, disrupted or thwarted the protest rallies.

Responding to the call of the Apunba Lup, womenfolk staging a meira rally against the July 23 killings

A woman activist received critical injuries when she was hit directly by a tear gas shell at Wangkhei Konsam Leikai.

Faced with the barrage of tear gas shells and rubber bullets, Phanjoubam Sundari (55) took cover inside her home.

Even then, police fired a tear gas shell into her home which hit Sundari at about 8.30 pm yesterday.

The tear gas left a deep and huge gash on her left thigh, measuring four inches in length.

Sundari has been admitted at RIMS.

Similar protest movements were also staged at the locality of late Sanjit who was killed by police commandos on July 23 .

Two columns of protesters marching towards Lamlong from Tinsid road and Ukhrul road were driven back and dispersed by police personnel.

A torch rally was also taken out at Kongba area.

Lamsang, the locality of late Rabina, also witnessed a huge meira rally against the Khwairamband killing of July 23 .

In Imphal West district, meira rallies were taken out at Tera, Singjamei, Kwakeithel, Heirangoithong Keibung, Takyel Khongbal and Chingamakha.

Along Mayai Lambi, similar protest rallies were taken out at Samurou, Wangoi and adjoining areas.

The common slogan of all these meira rallies were "Punish killer commandos", "Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, resign".

Continuing with the mass movement against the Khwairamband killings, protest demonstrations were staged at different places today.

Tera Keithel, Sagolband Nepra Menjor Leikai and Sega Road Takhellambam Leikai where some of the places were protest demonstrations were staged.

The protesters at Tera Keithel also submitted a memorandum to MLA Sapam Kunjakeshore.

The memorandum demanded dismissal of the DGP, the SP concerned and other officers responsible for the twin killings as well as unconditional release of the arrested Apunba Lup activists.

Another attempt of a large number of women to take out a protest rally at Khurai was thwarted by police using mock bombs this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Apunba Lup in a statement claimed that despite, the restrictions imposed by the Government, the meira rally was successfully staged at many places.

A number of rallyists were injured in the crackdown launched by the police, who fired tear gas shells, mock bombs and rubber bullets, it said and urged the police personnel to restrain themselves in the future.

To quell the people's movement against the July 23 incident, in which two persons, including a pregnant woman Th Rabina and Sanjit were killed while five others were injured, the Government has used its police force indiscriminately, alleged Apunba Lup.

A number of protestors have been injured and some have been maimed.

However such repressive measures will not succeed in subduing the people, it added.