Police pick up 19
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 17 2009: Protestors rushing police stations for mass court arrest, police foiling them with tear gas and mob ammunitions marked the second day of the 16 day old continuous protest against fake encounter.

Protest agitation spearheaded by the Apunba Lup demands resignation of the chief minister, O Ibobi Singh, action against police officers allegedly trying to conceal the truth behind the fake encounter of July 23 that killed Ch Sanjit by giving false reports and dismiss of the police commandos involved in the fake encounter.

At least 19 women who were among hundreds of women venders of Ema Keithel (Women market) marching towards the Imphal City Police Station have been picked up by the police and kept detained at the Imphal police station at around 11 am.

Women protesters court arrest at Khwairamband market

Hundreds of women venders of the Ema Market suddenly rose up in a bid to storm the city police station today around 11 am with slogan like "Resign criminal Ibobi, dismiss and tried killer police commandos," etc.

Women police personnel back by male personnel have a hard time stopping the outnumber women protestors when come out from the temporary market shed.

Police after a brief struggle with the protestors control them with additional police personnel from the Imphal west district police headquarters.

Police also picked up 19 of the women protestors and kept detained till late afternoon at the Imphal west district police headquarter.

Protestors also tried to enter other police stations like Irilbung in Imphal east, Patsoi, and City police stations in Imphal west districts, Pallel and Waikhong police station in Thoubal district.

Police foiled them all with tear gas and baton charge.

No major casualties reported in the police foiling bids of protestors.

A number of women protestors of Keiroa Bitra rallied towards the Irilbung police station with shouting slogans were stopped by the police before crossing the Irilbung Bridge to reach the station.

They also burnt the effigies of the chief minister there.

Another group of women coming from Bamonkampu was also dispersed by the police at a place around 200 meters before reaching the police station.

The same stir was also launched at Pallel and Waikhong police stations in Thoubal.

Womenfolk coming toward the police stations in group with slogans "Arrest us or resign chief minister, Ibobi turned back as police personnel in the stations refused to detain them.

The protest against fake encounter escalated in Jiribam town located at the border with Assam, a report received here said.

Protestors attacked the police station with stones in which police personnel in the state resorted in firing guns in the air to quell the protestors.

Protestors also burnt effigies of chief minister O Ibobi, his wife MLA Landhoni, DGP, Y Joykumar and police commandos at many places this evening. Police also foiled sit-in protest staged at Patsoi in Imphal west and at Kumbi Bazar, Kumbi Terakhong, Ethai Wapokpi, Kumbi Setapur in Bishnupur district.

At Patsoi, police dispersed the protestor by using tear gas as womenfolk taking part in the protest refused to discontinue the protest when a team of Patsoi asked to conclude the protest.

Police scattered placards displayed at the protest sites at four places at Kumbi areas of Bishnupur district.