IMPHAL, June 28: For the second consecutive day today, police had to resort to lathi-charge to control students in their school uniforms who were demanding implementation of ILP in the state from marching towards the Assembly Complex where the Assembly session has been going on since June 10.
Several students suffered minor injuries in the ensuing melee where the police fired tear gas shells, and the students pelted stones.
A large number of Churachand Higher Secondary School had stepped out of their school this afternoon around 12:30pm in bid to take out a peace rally demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit system in the state.
The CC school students were met by their counterparts from the Johnstone Higher Secondary School at their school gate. The student groups march along the Kanglapat moat shouting slogans and holding placards.
However, as the students’ march reached Gandhi Avenue traffic point along the Kanglapat moat, a heavy police presence stopped the students from proceeding further.
Police tried to turn back the students but the students remained adamant and tried to force their way towards the Assembly, following which the police resorted to lathi-charge and dispersed the students.
The students were escorted uptill their school, where another bout of tussle between the students and the police happened with the police resorting to firing of tear gas shells and the students pelting stones at the police.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons teachers of the Churachand Higher Secondary School echoed their displeasure over the police action meted out to the students.
They have charged the police of using excessive force in their bid to control the students who were in their uniforms.
A student of the school as on the other hand appealed to the police to allow the students of the school to take out their peaceful rallies demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit in the state which he said will be for the benefit of the whole state.
Several students have also condemned the police for using excessive force to control them but have at the same time assured that their demand for the ILP in the state will continue.