Mysterious death of Babysana : Students brave tear gas shells, mock bombs; many hurt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 10 2019: Students of various Government schools, including Tamphasana Girls Higher Secondary School, Johnstone Higher Secondary School, CC Higher Secondary School and Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School staged intense protest demonstrations in front of their school premises today demanding justice for Ningthoujam Babysana who was found hung to death inside the hostel of Standard Robarth Higher Secondary School, Canchipur on July 18 .

Students of TG Higher Secondary School took out a protest rally in front of their school gate and tried to proceed towards Raj Bhavan and the CM bungalow by raising slogans and demanding justice for late Babysana.

Mysterious death of Babysana : Students brave tear gas shells, mock bombs; many hurt

They also held placards with slogans like 'We strongly condemn the current Government', 'Bring the truth at the earliest' and 'No justice, no compromise" etc.

However, they were blocked by a large number of police personnel from going any further which led to a heated argument.

After a scuffle broke out, police used tear gas shells to disperse and push back the agitating students and locked down the main entrance gate of the school.

Some students reportedly fainted during the scuffle with the security personnel.

At the same time, students of Johnstone Hr Sec School, attempted to come out and launch protest demonstration in front of the school's main entrance gate but a large number of security personnel deployed near the school area prevented them from coming out.

The students attempted to come out from the gate located on the southern side of the school while some pelted stones towards the police personnel.

The police team also retaliated by using smoke bombs in their attempt to bring the situation under the control.

Protest was also carried out in front of CC Higher Secondary School main entrance gate as well, with students blocking the main road.

The situation turned ugly when the agitating students tried to proceed towards Chief Minister's bungalow by overpowering the police personnel.

Ultimately, police began using tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse the students and pushed them back inside the school campus.

The agitating students also pelted stones and used slingshot towards the police personnel at regular interval.

Due to the situation, traffic along the road leading towards CC Hr Sec School from Sanjenthong Bridge and from Palace Gate side, had to be diverted on both sides by police.

The road remained closed for around 2 hours during the clash between the police and the students.

In the clash, some of the students fainted and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Students of Ananda Higher Secondary School also resorted to a similar protest.

The protest continued despite heavy rainfall, with the students coming out from the school campus and shouting slogans in the middle of the road.

The agitating students were later brought under control.

A girl student of Ananda Higher Secondary school sustained major injuries on her right ankle due to a smoke bomb which exploded next to her.

She was rushed to a hospital and is presently undergoing treatment.

The incident occurred when students of the school tried to take out a protest rally.

Police, in an attempt to foil the rally, fired smoke bombs, one of which exploded near the said student injuring her.

Protests were also carried out at Khwairamband Keithel in the southern side of the flyover bridge by the women market vendors along with students of Ibotonsana Girl Higher Secondary School, TG Higher Secondary School and Johnstone Higher Secondary School.

Because of the protest agitation, police blocked the road to prevent any unwanted incident leading to heavy traffic jam in the busy bazaar area.

Similar protests were also carried out at Imphal College and Manipur College.

Students of the two colleges organised rallies demanding the State Government to establish the facts behind the death of Babysana and to ensure speedy justice.

A large number of students of Manipur College took out a rally along Singjamei-Pishum link road at around 11.30 am, shouting various slogans.

As they approached Singjamei traffic island, a large number of police personnel stopped them from moving further which resulted in a scuffle between the two sides.

The police then resorted to hurling smoke bombs to disperse the group of students.

On the other hand, police prevented a group of Imphal College students, who rallied towards Keishampat, from moving further near Keishampat Thounaojam Leikai.

A brief scuffle broke out between the police and the protesters and it turned into an ugly scene when police resorted to using smoke bombs which was retaliated by the students pelting stones.

On the other hand, demanding justice to the mysterious death of Babysana, a sit-in-protest was organised at Pourabi UJB school ground by Pourabi Nupi Lamjing Lup, Pourabi Yaifa Naharol Kanglup, Pourabi Raising Star Club, Gem Public School, Nungoi Awang Leikai Women Development Association, Nungoi Awang Leikai Development Committee, CWC Club, Pourabi Development Committee and Pourabi Junior High School today.