Students’ wing leader among five hurt in police action at Keishampat
IMPHAL, May 20: At least five persons including three women were injured in police action during the 38-hour cease work strike called by the JCILPS to protest the delaying of processes for implementation of ILPS in the state.
In an emphatic response to the JCILPS’s strike call, most business establishments and private offices remained closed while activities in government institutions were largely curtailed.
Passenger service and private vehicles also stayed off the road. At the same time, most educational institutions except for colleges conducting semester exams remained closed.
The strike which commenced from 4 am today caused extreme inconveniences to the public especially commuters due to road blockades staged in different parts of Imphal.
Though the JCILPS had appealed to the public to abstain from their daily services and duties to support the cause, it did not clearly mention the exact manner of agitation to be taken up by the strike supporters, particularly of blocking roads.
However, JCILPS supporters thronged the street from early morning and staged all sorts of demonstration including road blockade, sit-ins and rally.
Later in the evening five persons including three women and a leader of the JCILPS students’ wing were injured when police fired upon a protest rally taken out as a part of the JCILPS strike at Keishampat.
Hundreds of women and students protestors were part of the rally which commenced from Sangaiprou and was proceeding towards Keishampat raising slogans for the immediate implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in the State.
However, police stopped the rally at Keishampat Junction.
In an attempt to disperse the crowd who were steadfastly trying to move ahead, the police personnel fired tear gas shells and mock bombs injuring the five protestors.
They have been identified as L Dayananda (30), son of L Tijendra of Nagamapal; Jaya (40), wife of Bhumeshwor of Kwakeithel Thockchom Leikai; Thoibi Devi (48), wife of Ramekumar of Kwakeithel Thockchom Leikai; Nongmaithem Alex (18), son of Bishwarup of Yumnan Leikai; and Bijando Yumkhaibam, co-convenor JCILPS student’s wing.
The injured have reportedly been evacuated to RIMS hospital.
Condemning the police brutality, the JCILPS students and women wing has responded with an announcement to intensify its agitations from tomorrow.
Talking to media persons at its Keishampat office in this regard, JCILPS Women Wing convenor Thongam ongbi Apabi, stated that it is high time to teach a lesson to the state Government and all political parties in the state.
She appealed the public to organise sit-in protest, restrict movement of vehicles, organise rallies and other democratic form of agitations from tomorrow.
She said that emergency services like health, electricity and media, people attending religious functions and candidates appearing for All Indian Entrance Examination for Admission (AIEEA) conducted by Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) will be exempted from the purview of the strike.
In the meantime, the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) president Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, appealed to the strike supporters not to give hindrances to journalists particularly reporters who are on duty.
The 38-hr general strike imposed by the JCILPS, demanding the immediate implementation of ILP system in the state, paralyzed normal life in Thoubal district.
All business establishments in the districts including Haokha, Kiyam, Wangjing, Khangabok and Yairipok, ceased their normal activities. Strike supporters restricted movements of vehicles on National Highway 102 at Thoubal Kiyam Babu Bazaar. However, college students appearing their semester exams and religious ceremony were exempted from the purview of the strike. Road blocks were also staged at Thoubal Thongkhong, Yairipok Top Chingthak, Bishnunaha, Thoubal Khestri Leikai among others.
During the agitation the strike supporters also chanted slogans for immediate implementation of ILP system in Manipur, barring of non-Manipuri from contesting election.
The general strike was also strictly observed at Heirok, Wangjing, Kakching and interior parts of the district.
