Rally demands release of students in custody, 5 seek voluntary arrest
IMPHAL, May 26: Volunteers of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) women wing today stormed the offices of Janata Dal (United) and Communist Party of India-Marxist located at Babupura in the same building at around 1.30 pm and locked the doors.
JD(U) president M Tombi was present in his office when the women forcefully entered there and he tried in vain to pacify them. The pro-ILP agitators shouted many slogans inside the office telling it in clear terms that they did not come there for discussion but to close the office as part of its campaign on shutting down offices of political parties in the state.
Tombi responded by stating that his party has been working in the people interest unlike the BJP or Congress party. He assured his party’s support to the ongoing ILPS movement.
The women raised many popular pro-ILP like “if political parties could not go to Delhi, stop operating the office,” “No ILP-no Government”, “No ILP- no political party office”, “No ILP-no Government office” etc.
Later, the protestors locked down the offices and issued a warning to other political parties not to open their offices until the implementation of ILPS in the State.
On the other hand, students of Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School marched along the Imphal-Khangchup road demanding the immediate and unconditional release of student leaders in police custody and implementation of ILPS in the State. The rally started from the gate of the school and proceeded towards Khwairambandh Keithel, but the police stopped them near BT fly over. The students retreated but gathered at the spot where the JAC against The Brutal Assault of Tarini is holding its protest.
Five students voluntarily demanded the police to arrest them and climbed inside the police vehicles. Later, Imphal West Magistrate and SP and women police came to the spot and put the situation under control.
It may be mentioned that the police arrested three student leaders including Pebam Bruce of Churachand Higher Secondary School and Bidyaluxmi of Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School on May 24 and Longjam Brojen of DM College of Sciences the next day.
