Two WCAL activists held, 'partial' rally staged
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 11: Two activists of the Apunba Lup have been arrested by police when they were coming to attend mass protest rally this morning.

On the other hand, even as the mass protest rally scheduled to set off from THAU ground and the public meeting scheduled at Hapta Kangjeibung could not be held due to tight security measures taken up by the State to abort the plan of the Apunba Lup, the rally was taken out at another route and the public meeting was also held at an alternative venue.

Since early morning, a large number of security personnel were deployed in and around THAU ground and barred all the people coming to participate in the protest rally from entering the ground.

Cops block the way of members of the Apunba Lup to stage a protest rally against indiscriminate killings in Imphal, May 11

All the vehicles coming to Imphal from greater Imphal area and other districts were also screened by security personnel and prevented all those coming to participate in the rally to proceed towards Imphal.

A large number of security personnel also kept a strict vigil on all the main roads and streets of Imphal city.

Water canons were also kept ready.Even as no one was allowed to enter THAU ground, around 100 women took out a protest rally from Ima Keithel at about 11 am.

The protesters held festoons and banners which read as, "Repeal AFSPA 1958", "No More Bloodshed Between Kinsmen", "Stop State Terrorism", "Resolve the Problems of Insurgency Politically" etc.

As the protesters reached Johnstone School, police fired smoke bombs and resorted to baton charging to disperse the protesters.

Later in the afternoon, a public meeting was held at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai under the aegis of the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup.

The meeting was jointly presided by president of the All Manipur Women's Social Reformation and Development Samaj K Taruni, president of the Momnu Irik Khombi Lup AK Janaki and president of the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur L Memchoubi. The meeting resolved to launch a campaign so as to prevent killings without trial, do away with the practice of accusing a person posthumously and to resolve the issue of insurgency through political means.

Addressing the meeting, coordinator of the Apunba Lup Ph Devan said that today's rally was in protest against unrestrained violence perpetrated by some armed groups, destruction of people's properties, unreasonable firing and setting off of bombs, causing fear and panic to the people, abduction for ransom as well as against numerous cases of human rights violation by security forces.

He further asserted that large scale deployment of security forces cannot be bring a lasting solution to the problem of insurgency.

Assistant coordinator of the Apunba Lup K Sunil condemned the alleged intimidation of transporters by police since yesterday and the blockade put up by police against people coming to participate in the rally.

Stating that Angom Mahesh (32) of Wankhei Angom Leikai and Waikhom Anand (19) of Soibam Leikai have been arrested by police when they were coming to participate in today's protest rally, the Apunba Lup warned that intense agitation will be launched in case the two are not release immediately without any condition.

Sunil said that two persons also sustained injuries because of police action during today's protest march.

Addressing the meeting, A Tondon, another coordinator of the Lup called upon the people to unite together and to tackle the myriad problems besetting the State collectively.

Apunba Lup member Nirmala alleged that the Government's objection to the rally planned against violence and atrocities only shows that the culprit is the incumbent Government.

Asking the Government to issue guns to all the people just as in the case of Heirok people, she said that people would turn their weapons to those guilty.

Many other speakers also condemned the Government's action of aborting the protest rally.

They also hailed the resolution adopted by the Apunba Lup to bring a solution.