Imphal, August 04: Even as several hundred protestors launched court arrest agitation at near Tera police outpost, security personnel burst tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse the agitators after announcing through the public address system that curfew relaxation period has been shortened.

In all eight persons, including, two teenage girls were admitted to JN Hospital for treatment of agitation related injuries suffered at various location of the State capital today when police personnel resorted to firing rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse protestors who thronged the streets as part of the mass court arrest agitation.

The injured persons, as informed by Emergency Relief Committee JN Hospital are Haobijam Henry (19) of Khurai Ahongei, Th Ashinikumar (21) Langthabal, Moirangthem Sanjoy (18) - Khurai Chingabam Leikai, Thangjam Madan (52) - Bamon Kampu, Thongam Pholen Khaba (18) - Kongba Nongthombam Leikai, ArambamBonsi (15) - Khurai Arambam Leikai, Koijam Nomita (16) - Khurai Thoudam Leikai and Samurailatpam Renubala (15) - Singjamei Wangma Leikai.

Answering to the call of the Apunba Lup to stage court arrest, several hundred protestors comprising of school students and women activists converged at near Tera police outpost at about 11.30 am demanding removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, punishment of the 17 Assam Rifles personnel involved in killined Manorama and shifting of AR from Karigla.

As security reinforcements arrived from Lamphel police station along with vehicles to evacuate the protestors, the agitators resorted to stone pelting at the police personnel moments after the security men informed that curfew has been re-imposed from 1.30 pm.

The police personnel retaliated with rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse the protestors from the site.

Demanding immediate convening of an Assembly session to discuss the removal of AFSPA in the wake of widespread protest following the custodial killing of Thangjam Manorama on July 11, legislators and leaders of the All Political Party Forum floated by the Opposition parties staged a sit-in-protest at the gate of Manipur Legislature Assembly today.

Security personnel iterating that staging protest violates restrictions imposed under the CrPC 144 herded the agitators in a security bus and detained at Imphal police station.

The protestors also raised slogans demanding stern punishment of guilty AR men and immediate revocation of AFSPA from Manipur.

During similar protest at near Hodam Leirak along the Tiddim Line two women sustained injuries when police fired rubber bullet and bursts tear gas shells to disperse about 500 protestors marching towards the heart of the capital city.

The injured persons have been identified as Chingabam Ningol Jamuna (35) w/o Achouba of Keisamthong Moirang Ningthou Leirak and Kumari Seityabati (22) d/o Kanhai of Keisampat Leimajam Leikai.

Both sustained rubber bullet injuries at the legs.

Seityabati was injured when the rubber bullet pierced through the house wall and hit her at the left leg.

A second confrontation also took place at the same site soon after with police personnel using tear gas and rubber bullets to chase away stone pelting and armed with catapult protestors.

Informed sources said that four persons including one Home Guard lady personnel suffered injuries at the chin likely to be from catapult shots.

Forty year old brother of the deceased Manorama identified as Thangjam Madan also had to be rushed to JN Hospital for treatment of rubber bullet wound sustained during a stand-off between protestors and police personnel at Kongba bazar.

Several hundred people from Kongba area had tried to march towards the capital city as part of the mass court arrest agitation that compelled the security personnel deployed at Kongba Bazar to fire rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protestors.

Student protestors under the joint initiatives of AMSU, DESAM and MSF attempted to stage court arrest protest at the Raj Bhavan gate but police personnel dispersed them bursting tear gas.

As the protestors made a second attempt to protest at the high security zone the security men swung into action and detained the agitators numbering about 15 at Imphal police station.

Police personnel also arrested several numbers of agitators who were staging protest at Gamnom Sapermeina police station as in consonance with the mass court arrest agitation at around 12 noon today.

The agitators consisted of members of the Senapati district Meitei Social Development Committee, Motbung UCM unit, Motbung Youth Club, Motbung Gorkha Mahila Samaj, Gorkha Welfare Youth Club and residents of Sapermeina, Kalapahar, Charhajare and Kangpokpi.

The protestors were hauled up in three security vehicles and released at near Sekmai.

Skirmishes also broke out at Naorem Leikai and Thangmeiband area as the agitators were dispersed using tear gas and rubber bullets.

Sit-in-protests was also staged by students and teaching staffs of Thambaljao High School (Uripok).

Meanwhile, State Level Nupi Lan Ningshing Lamjel Organizing Committee, Singjamei condemning the extra-judicial killing of Manorama pledged support to agitation in demand for punishment of guilty AR men and lifting of AFSPA from Manipur.

Comment