Imphal, February 19: In complete disregard of the fervent appeal made by the Chief Minister yesterday to call off the ongoing stir for introduction of Meetei Mayek text books from the current academic session, Meetei Mayek activists today set on fire 20 books written in Bengali script in front of the State Legislative Assembly gate here today.

At around 1.45 pm, nine volunteers of Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillon Apunba Lup (MEELAL) burnt the text books in front of the State Assembly gate and shouted slogans demanding introduction of Meetei Mayek text books and doing away with books written in Bengali scripts.

A team of City Police personnel arrived at the scene soon after and doused the fire and arrested all the protestors which included seven women and two men.

The nine Meetei Mayek activists who were taken into custody by the police today are identified as Ng Kunjalata of Sekta Mayai Leikai, M Shanti of Sekta Awang Leikai; Chandni, Purnima, Sushma and Malika and Ibecha, all from Phayeng and W Inaoton alias Nganba of Noushangkhul and Santhang Haokip of MEELAL Churachandpur unit.

Even as the police were trying to grapple with the protestors in front of the State Assembly, another nine member team of MEELAL activists made a bonfire of Bengali script text books in front of the office building of Director of Education (S), located on the southern side of Bengali High School, Babupara at around 2 pm.

Despite being a high security zone area, the slogan shouting MEELAL activists continued their demonstration for a full 15 minutes without any hindrance from any quarters.

But as the agitators were coming out after finishing their task, police rounded up two of women activists.

They are identified as Kh Babita of Kongpal and Y Sunita Devi of Sekta.

It may be recalled that the Meetei Mayek activists have been demanding introduction of Meetei Mayek from the primary level text books in schools from primary to secondary level and have been launching similar demonstration at different parts of the State including in front of the gates of Chief Minister�s official bungalow, Raj Bhavan, etc.

Taking into account the violent nature of the protest demonstration, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh yesterday appealed to the Meetei Mayek activists to call off their agitation and warned of taking up legal action against them if they continue their stir.

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