Mass rally foiled, but protests on unabated
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 10 2009: Though the mass protest rally, called by the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup today, was foiled with stringent security measures and imposition of curfew, protest demonstrations were taken out and the effigies of the Chief Minister and the DGP were burnt at many places in defiance of police action and curfew.

In view of the announcement of the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, which is spearheading the ongoing public agitation against the July 23 fake encounter at BT Road, to submit a memorandum to the Governor jointly at around 11 am today, after taking out mass protest rallies from different directions, security measures were stepped up and indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal East and Imphal West district.

Pitched battles between protestors and police and different faces of the people's angst against the Government

A large number of CRPF, BSF, IRB, MR and VDF personnel were stationed along all the important roads of the two districts, even as mobile teams of the police commandos patrolled every streets and bylanes to foil any attempt of the protestors to group together.

Security measures along all the roads leading to the Raj Bhavan were also intensified and no one with exception to the security forces were allowed to pass the road in front of the Raj Bhavan gate, which was kept fortified in view of the announcement that a memorandum would be submitted to the Governor.

Inspite of all these, protest demonstrations were reportedly taken out and the effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and DGP Y Joykumar set aflame at different parts in defiance of curfew and police action.

At Khurai Kongpal Sajor Leikai, the native place of Chungkham Sanjit who was killed in the July 23 incident at BT Road, police resorted to firing tear gas shells and stun bombs to disperse a large number of rallyists.

The protestors also retaliated with slingshots.

One of the tear gas shells fired by the police reportedly landed at the residential compound of slain Sanjit.

Police also reportedly arrested four protestors from the area.

The JAC formed in connection with the killing of Ch Sanjit has strongly condemned the action of the police.

In a statement, the JAC said that not only did the police bar the protestors from proceeding further to submit a memorandum to the Governor, but they also fired tear gas shells towards the house of Sanjit.

Not only were some persons picked up, but the police also insulted the mother of Sanjit, questioning why a Mandap was erected at their compound. The JAC also demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister if he cannot dispense justice.

At Lamshang, near the police station, police fired tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse a group of around 40 to 50 womenfolk who were taking out a protest march.

The womenfolk also raised slogans in response to the call of the Apunba Lup at around 12.30 pm today.

The slogan shouting agitated womenfolk were coming from Lamshang Bazar with banners and placards inscribed with wordings like 'Resign Chief Minister', 'Release the arrested members of Apunba Lup', 'Remove Armed Forces Special Powers Act', 'Save the lives of civilians' 'Stop killing innocent people', when they were stopped by the police with firing of gear gas canisters and mock bombs.

Inspite of the police action, two or three women who came leading the protest march managed to hand over a memorandum addressed to the Governor in connection with the July 23 fake encounter at Khwairamband Bazar to Officer in Charge of Lamshang Police StationJoykumar Singh.

A large number of womenfolk who took out a protest rally were also dispersed by the police at Chingarel-Tejpur.

Inspite of the police action, the protestors continued to raise slogans demanding resignation of Chief Minister and punishment of the police commandos involved in the July 23 fake encounter incident at BT Road.

Similarly, at Lamlai, protest rallyists were dispersed by the police.

At least six protestors have been reportedly arrested by the police.

At Sagolband Nepra Major Pukhri Mapal Community Hall, protestors set aflame the effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and DGP Y Joykumar while at Sagolband Tera Loukrakpam Leikai, the effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, his wife and MLA Landhoni and DGP Y Joykumar were burnt.

Effigy of the Chief Minister was also reportedly set aflame at Iroisemba by the local people.

Our Jiribam correspondent adds: In response to the call of the Apunba Lup, about 300 students of Jiribam took out a protest rally against the BT Road firing incident of July 23 today.

Slogans like 'Stop fake encounters', 'Remove AFSPA' and CM Ibobi should resign on moral ground ' were written on the placards and festoons carried by the rallyists.