Advocate Arjun freed, JCILPS vows to continue stir
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 06 2014 :
Even as Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) executive member Advocate P Arjun has been released from judicial custody today, the Committee has decided to continue their scheduled agitations until ILPS is implemented in the State.
However, the Committee lauded the Government for releasing the Advocate unconditionally.
Arjun was warmly received and greeted by a large number of people including members of JCILPS Women's Wing, Students' Wing and its executive members at Sajiwa Central Jail gate.
Later, the committee hosted a reception function at their office in the afternoon.
Speaking at the reception function, JCILPS Convener Ibotombi Khuman said that they skipped the scheduled September 4 dialogue with the Government as Arjun was not released before September 4 .
He said that the Advocate was arrested by the police on July 28 when he went to Keishampat to deliver placards and banners for the sit-in-protests to be staged at various localities.
He was later wrongly detained under Section 17/20 of Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act, Ibotombi said.
He added that after JCILPS turned down Government's invitation for a dialogue on ILPS issue, Convenor of All Political Parties Forum, RK Anand assured the Committee to release Arjun as early as possible to enable holding of talks on phase-wise.
Today at around 1 pm, Ibotombi said, All Political Parties Forum informed JCILPS about Arjun's release over the phone.
However, they have not received any fresh invitation of talks from the Government so far, Ibotombi said.
He further said that although the Government has fulfilled the demand for release of Arjun, there would no change in the Committee's scheduled agitations announced earlier.
Ibotombi said that the ongoing pro-ILPS movement does not intend to flush out non-locals from the State but to regulate their entry.
Speaking at the reception function, Advocate Arjun said that people would suffer as long as police continue to detain them on wrong charges.
The Advocate said that he met many persons in the jail, who were detained without any valid reason.