Many hurt as students protest arrest of ATSUM members
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 06 2022: At-least 30 students were reportedly injured in clashes between police and students during a protest demonstration carried out by the latter on Saturday to demand release of the arrested All Tribal Students' Union (ATSUM) members.

The protest staged in Chingmeirong area was organised by All College Tribal Students' Union, Imphal.

To disperse the protesting students, police fired tear gas shells while the students retaliated by pelting stones, leading to some injuries on both sides, the students in particular.

Two students reportedly suffered serious injuries out of 30 hurt in the clash with police.

Responding to the call of All College Tribal Students' Union, hundreds of school and college tribal students converged at Adimjati basketball court, Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak and tried to take out a protest rally from Mao Imphal Market near DMU campus around 9.30 am.

However, a team to Imphal West district police and district police commando with riot gears showed up to stop the students, which led to a confrontation.

As the confrontation intensified, the irate students pelted stones towards police and the latter fired tear gas shells to disperse the protestors.

Speaking in this regard, DM College of Arts Social and Cultural secretary Ningzan Jadu reasoned that every citizen in a democratic country has the right to protest.

While condemning the hindrance caused to a peaceful rally, he said that they will continue to launch intense protest until the arrested ATSUM members are released.

Ningzan said: "We never invite government or any other police for the physical challenge.

We are here for a peaceful rally but they (police) compelled us to become violent.

We are with banners to shout the slogans like 'release our leaders', but they have already fired teargas at us and many of the students have been injured.

I would like to appeal to the government that until or unless they release the arrested leaders and serve justice, we will never retreat from our movement." Jajo also alleged that the state government always tried to intimidate them by arresting leaders whenever there are tribal issues in the state.

"India is a land of democracy where every one of us has equal rights to express our thoughts and expression.

But just imagine, yesterday more than hundreds of people from valley-based CSQs gathered and locked the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) office despite the Section 144 of CrPC 1973 imposed in the area," said Jajo.

Where were all those policemen who disappeared when such a huge gathering happened at the ATSUM office yesterday and where are all those rules and regulations written in the Constitution of India, questioned Jajo.

"This was supposed to be a peaceful rally.

So, why the police had to beat us up," said a protesting student.

The five ATSUM leaders have been charged for conspiring to impose economic blockade in the hill districts of Manipur.

ATSUM had intensified their agitation demanding tabling of the Manipur (Hill Areas) ADC Bill 2021 by the state government in the assembly session.

At around 10:30 am, hundreds of tribal students studying in various colleges and universities in Imphal assembled at the Mao-Imphal market shed for a peaceful protest demanding to release immediately the five tribal student leaders arrested by Manipur Police.

However, a clash broke out when the police tried to disperse the protestors before they begin the peaceful protest.

Later, the student protestors tried to march toward the Manipur Legislative Assembly, but they were stopped by the police.

Another clash occurred between the student protestors and police near MBC Memorial Ground where they pelted stones at each other.

Two students involved in the scuffle were also arrested and taken away by the police from the spot.

The police officers present at the site refused to comment in regards to the arrest of the students.

It may be noted that five leaders of ATSUM, including the president and general secretary, were picked up by Imphal West police on Tuesday following the union's call for a shutdown in hill districts, to demand the tabling of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) recommended Autonomous District Councils (ADC) Amendment Bill, 2021.On Friday, much against the students' demand, minister for tribal affairs and hills department Letpao Haokip passed the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (sixth amendment) Bill 2022 on the last day of the budget session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, while the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council (seventh amendment) Bill 2022 was referred to HAC for further discussion, stating that there is some technical error and it requires further examination.

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