IMPHAL, July 8: Kakchingtabam Birahari Sharma, 72, from Thongju Part-II who has begun an indefinite hunger strike from July 6 demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the state has been remanded to judicial custody after he was arrested by Singjamei Police from Kwakeithel Akham Leikai Community Hall in the intervening night of July 7 and 8.
KB Sharma who is the advisor of Federation of Regional Indigenous Society (FREINDS) was arrested by a team of Singjamei Police led by a sub-inspector at 12.19 am today. He has been charged with attempt to commit suicide under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code.
He was forcibly admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) at around 2 pm but refused to take any form of treatment. The police then took him away from the hospital after getting permission from the medical superintendent.
KB Sharma was then produced at the residence of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class (JMIC) Imphal West, Yumkham Lothar. He was remanded to judicial custody after he refused to take bail stating that he would continue the hunger strike until and unless the Inner Line Permit System is implemented in the state. He has been lodged at Sajiwa Central Jail and still continues the hunger strike.
Meanwhile, local clubs and organizations in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur staged sit-in-protests demanding the implementation of ILP in the state. In Imphal area, sit-in-protests were held at Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai, Keishamthong Laishom Leirak and Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai.
The United Committee Manipur (UCM), in a press release has demanded the state government to implement the Inner Line Permit System in the state to check influx of migrants in the state. The increasing population of non-local people is a threat to the socio-economic condition of the state. The indigenous people of Manipur will vanish one day if the influx of migrants is not checked timely by implementing the ILP. The people of Manipur must remember that the Tripuris from Tripura disappeared due to large influx and dominance of migrants, the statement added.
Communist Party of India, Manipur State Unit also decried Ibobi-led government for its inability to implement the Inner Line Permit System in the state to check rapid influx of migrants.
