IMPHAL, August 28: An 80-year-old woman launched a hunger strike at Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai waiting shed demanding implementation of the ILPS or a similar Act in the State.
The octogenarian identified as Aribam (o) Shamurailatpam Sanahanbi Devi wife of Aribam Chaoba Sharma of Singjamei Thongam Leikai commenced her fast this morning around 6:30, after an earlier faster Yumnam Enaobi was picked up by the concern authorities on August 27 evening around 2:30.
25-year-old Yumnam Dingku Singh, son of Y Naba Singh of Khongmal Mangjil has also started his hunger strike since 7pm of August 27 at the Oriental Club Khongman Mangjil, after the police arrested Bramacharimayum Narendra Sharma around 5pm of the same day.
Five new student volunteers have also taken the place of five previous hunger strike volunteers picked up around 8pm yesterday by the authorities from in front of the Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy gate.
The new hunger strikers began their strike since 11pm of August 27.
The five are identified as class XII Sc student of the International School of Resource (ISOR) Jeevanchandra Wangkheimayum, 17, son of W Ramananda Singh; class XII Sc student of Lamlong Higher Secondary School Laishram Lanjingba Singh, 17, son of L Sunil Singh; class IX student of Laishram Mani Memorial English Academy Basko Moirangthem, 13, daughter of M Saratchandra; class XI Arts student of TG Higher Secondary School Tomthinnganbi Toijam, 15, daughter of T Satyam Luwang and class XI Sc student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy Keisham Nelson Singh, 16, son of K Dhiren Singh.
Thongbam Jogabati, 50, wife of Th Bimolchand, Kababam Shakhitombi Devi, 55, wife of (L) K Krishnamani and Yendrembam Danajit Singh, 32, son of Y Hemchandra Singh replaced Senjam Manitombi Devi, 75, wife of S Iboyaima and Hajarimayum Lika Devi, 25, daughter of (L) H Indramani Singh who suspended their strike this morning at 10.
29 local clubs of Thangmeiband area had launched a 24-hour relay hunger strike since yesterday at the waiting shed opposite to the THAU ground.
Meanwhile, sit in protests demanding implementation of the ILP also continued at several places.
Womenfolk of Chungkhum Leirak, Soram Leirak, Kangjabi machin and RIMS Maching Apunba Committee along with the Nagamapal RIMS Road Shopkeepers Association demonstrated by staging a sit in protest at Nagamapal Soram Leirak.
Shops around the area remained closed during the sit in protest.
Women vendors of the three Ima Keithels also staged sit in protest and ceased their normal business activity for the day. A public meeting was also held after the sit in protest.
At Chingmeiraong, womenfolk also organised a huge human chain demanding passing of the ILP bill.
