Cops dismantle camp of hunger strikers, scuffle breaks out with JCILPS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 29 2016 : A major scuffle broke out between police and supporters of JCILPS when police dismantled the camp of hunger strikers and tent camp set up for a public meeting by JCILPS at Singjamei Thongkhong today.

JCILPS secretary Subhaschandra said that a public meeting was scheduled to be held from 10 am to 1 pm at United Youth Organisation Ground.

A written application was submitted regarding the meeting to the DC concerned.

However, JCILPS decided to hold the meeting at Singjamei Thongkhong waiting shed where supporters of JCILPS have been on a hunger strike.

"This morning, police came and said the meeting cannot be conducted in a public place and demanded that the area be cleared within 10 minutes.

Right after 10 minutes had passed, a large number of police personnel started dismantling the tent camp.

Clothes and mattresses of hunger strikers and other items were also thrown into the Imphal river following which a major scuffle broke out between the JCILPS supporters and police" .

During the incident, some students fainted and were rushed to JNIMS.

Linthoi Ningthoujam, student of Lamlong Higher Secondary School said that police grabbed the hunger strikers by their necks and drove them out of the camp.

"It was a very disturbing scene.

Attempts to foil our movement will not deter us from continuing to organise meetings and launch hunger strikes," Linthoi Ningthoujam said.

Since prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC is still in force, police warned them to leave the place in 5 minutes.

While JCILPS supporters left the place and proceeded towards Khongman Mangjil, police barricaded the areas near Singjamei Thong.

Police also dispersed the supporters who were gathering in and around Singjamei Kshetri Leikai and Singjamei Bamon Leikai.

48 others handed over to police : Altogether 48 non-local labourers who came to the State in inter-State passenger vehicles long Imphal-Dimapur highway were pulled down from the vehicles and handed over to police today in the course of the ongoing drive carried out by volunteers of the Advanced Women Society Awang Sekmai and the Awang sekmai Protection Committee.

The two civil organisations based at Awang Sekmai launched the verification drive since July 21 in solidarity with the popular demand for enactment of a Constitutional safeguard for protection of indigenous people of the land.

The 48 non-local labourers handed over to police today included a woman and they belong to Assam, West Bengal and Bihar.

JCILPS volunteers too joined the verification drive.

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