Roads blocked to demand release of village volunteers
Arrestees remanded to police custody; Committee appeals for unconditional release
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 18 2023: Enraged public blocked roads and disrupted vehicular movement in various parts of the state on Monday demanding unconditional release of the five village volunteers who have been arrested by police from Kongba area on September 16.From early morning, protestors came out in huge number and blocked the National Highway 102 in Singjamei Waikhom Leikai area demanding unconditional release of the village volunteers.

Owing to the impromptu protest, people commuting on the said road stretch faced serous inconveniences.

As soon as news of the road block was received, Singjamei police came to the spot and urged the protestors to stop the agitation and give way to traffic.

However, the protestors continued to block the road until the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel arrived and dispersed the mob by firing tear gas shells.

Protestors in Khurai area also blocked the road stretch from Teli-pati to Lamlong and from Ayangpalli Road to JNIMS by placing logs on the road.

Police dispersed the crowd by firing tear gas shells.

During the agitation launched along Ayangpalli road near JNIMS, one CID staff of Manipur police department suffered injuries following an argument and subsequent exchange of blows with the agitators.

The injured CID staff been identified as Nongmaithem Niranjan (29) s/o Nimaichand of Soibam Leikai.

Meanwhile, the 5 village volunteers were produced before the Duty Magistrate on Sunday and were remanded to police custody till September 22.The five persons were reportedly arrested by the police for carrying sophisticated weapons while donning camouflage uniforms.

There have been reports of "extortion, threats, misuse of police uniforms and impersonation by armed miscreants", and in view of this, police have been making all-out efforts, PTI news agency quoted an official as saying.

The arrest sparked protest as people tried to storm Porompat police station in Imphal East district, leading to firing of tear gas shells by security forces.

Few persons, including a personnel of RAF, received minor injuries during the commotion, according to the police.

On the other hand, around 300 meira paibi women of Wangkhei Khunou Soibam Leikai staged sit-in-protest against the arrest of the village volunteers at Citizens' Club, Wangkhei community hall on Monday.

Appealing to the government authorities not to arrest Meitei volunteers, who are in the frontline defending the villages from attacks by Kuki militants, Coordinating Committee of 30 Assembly Constituencies has demanded the government to release the five village volunteers, who have been arrested by the police on September 16, without any condition.

In a release, Committee convenor L Binod Kumar opined that as Manipur could not be saved without the sacrifices of the village volunteers, it is the responsibility of every individual to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur.

As such, no one should hinder the village volunteers who are in the frontline and are ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the people, he asserted.

In view of the present situation, volunteers defending the villages should not be arrested until Kukis stop firing, Binod continued.

While pointing out that it is the duty of the state and central governments to end the firing between the warring communities, Binod enquired how the firing will stop when only volunteers of one side are being arrested.

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