IMPHAL, July 28: Atleast four students were injured in police action to control agitators demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), today in Bishnupur district.
Responding to the movement spearheaded by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit (JCILP) to mount pressure on the government on the issue, a large number of people including students of the district staged a sit in protest today at Bishnupur bazaar since morning.
In the evening, around 3 pm, the agitators took to the streets in protest chanting slogans “We demand implementation of ILP,” and proceeded towards the DC office.
However, a team of the district police led by SP Bishnupur who were already deployed in and around the Bishnupur bazaar area barricaded the protestors using bamboos.
The police, who were overwhelmed by the huge number of protestors, resorted to firing mock bombs in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
In the process, two girl students collapsed while two others sustained injury and were evacuated to Bishnupur district hospital by a team of district police.
The victims have been identified as Warepam Anju, 18, daughter of Shyam Phubala Awang Mamang, (a class XI student of CI College), Moirangthem Thoibi, 14, daughter of Loken of Bishnupur Kwairakpam (class VII students of Bishnupur higher secondary School), Chanambam Gaitri, 13, daughter of Khomba of Bishnupur ward no.5 (class VII students of Bishnupur Higher Secondary School) and Sorokhaibam Linthou, 15, daughter of Shanti Devi of Bishnupur ward no.4 (class X student of RKP Regular English Academy).
Anju’s condition is stated to be critical and is presently admitted at RIMS.
Meanwhile, Khangembam Shining, 19, s/o Sunil of Bishnupur ward no.4 (BA 1st semester CI College) who was arrested by the police was released around 5 pm in the evening.
Even as police took control of the situation in the bazaar area, stray incidents persisted along the Imphal-Tiddim road. Burning tyres, tree branches and other forms of road blocks were piled up along the road.
Sit in protest was also held at Keinou Bazaar organised by the Gulap English School, Amusana Girls High School and Ideal English School. Similarly residents in and around Nambol bazaar also staged sit in demonstration attended by around 200 individuals.
