Proposed camera meeting of MLA I Ibohalbi turns ugly
8 students hurt in police action
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03 2011: At least 10 women including 8 girl students sustained injuries in police action on a group of women who came looking for MLA of Oinam A/C Dr Irengbam Ibohalbi at his Ngaikhong Khullen Maning Leikai residence under Bishnupur district today afternoon.

According to information culled from the site of the incident, on hearing about the proposed visit of MLA Ibohalbi, who the people of Ngaikhong Khullen had decided to boycott, to address an elected related meeting, hundreds of womenfolk including girl students came out to block the road and staged Wakat Meephams at two points.

At around 2 pm, MLA Ibohalbi arrived along with his escort personnel.

The escort personnel tried to disperse the protestors leading to a confrontation for one and half hours.

At last, the MLA contacted the district police and a large police team led jointly by SDPO and OC Bishnupur rushed in and fired tear gas canisters and guns to disperse the protestors, according to a woman leader identified as Lamabam Hemolata.

At that moment, students and teachers of the nearby Little Star English School were celebrating Teachers' day when 2/3 tear gas canisters fell into their school campus leading to a stampede.

A young girl at the hospital watched over by her sibling

Principal of the school Khundongbam Nabachandra recalled that when the tear gas canisters fell inside the school campus amid the sound of gun firing, the students were taken aback and they started running helter skelter.

The situation was beyond the control of the teachers.

When requested, instead of stopping the firing, the police even verbally abused the teachers.

At least, 8 girl students sustained injuries in the ensuing melee and all of them were admitted to Bishnupur District Hospital for treatment, the principal informed, adding that the whereabouts of two other girl students have not yet been known.

It may be the duty of the police to disperse the protestors.

But firing tear as canisters inside the school campus and causing panic among the students is condemnable, principal Nabachandra added.

In connection with the social boycott call of the MLA, villagers of Ngaikhong Khullen asserted that the MLA in connivance with some of his workers swindled the fund meant of payment of wages to the job card holders under MGNREGS and the job card holders were not provided the stipulated number of mandays.

In all 16 villagers have earlier filed application under RTI seeking information in this regard, the villagers recalled, adding that on August 2 last, one active worker of the MLA stabbed a job card holder at Bishnupur Bazar Parking.

Infuriated over the incident, villagers destroyed the house of the accused active worker.

Later on, the MLA and his workers reported to the Bishnupur police accusing the 16 RTI petitioners as the culprits behind the attack at the house of the active worker.

The villagers decided to boycott the MLA demanding withdrawal of the police complaint against the 16 RTI petitioners.

The election meeting in which MLA Ibohalbi was scheduled to address today could not take place.