IMPHAL, May 31: Demanding unconditional release of arrested students in connection with the pro-ILPS agitation, students today staged demonstration along Tiddim road by blocking vehicular movement this evening at Kwakeithel.
17 students from different schools in Imphal staged the protest with support from local womenfolk of Kwakeithel area. They blocked traffic movements at Kwakeithel. Even military vehicles and VIP vehicles were forced to turn back. However, free movement was allowed to activities related to medical emergencies.
The students did not retract from their demonstration even as a large number of police personnel including women police tried to drive them out.
The protesting students raised a number of slogans like ‘implement Inner Line Permit System immediately, ‘release arrested students unconditionally,’ ‘convert the three Bills passed last year by the State Legislative Assembly into Acts.’
Among the 17 student protesters, A Anjita of Lamlong Higher Secondary School, N Anand of CC Higher Secondary School and N Linthoi of Lamlong Higher Secondary School fainted after raising a series of slogans with local women folks.
Medical team from Indian Red Cross Society provided first aid to the students.
Meanwhile, another group of protesters in the same area pelted stones at the police. Police retaliated by firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse them.
Clash with police and protesters is going on till the time of filing this report.
The College Students’ Council has also threatened to intensify the stir if the arrested students are not released by 12 noon tomorrow.
O Romen, co-convenor, College Students’ Council said that four students were today arrested during the pro-ILPS agitation at Education (U) office.
The arrested students are Dhanachandra Khaidem of Maharaj Bodhachandra, Laishram Thouba of NG Mani College, Sarangthem Taibanganba of DM College of Arts and Kishan Heisnam of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School. One Nongmaithem Yaiphabi of Oriental College also sustained head injury.
“We will not take the treatment meted out to students by police lightly. All the students who were arrested must be released by 12 noon tomorrow or else we will step up agitation,” O Romen said.
The State Government has declared holidays for all Government, Government aided and private schools but BA, BSc and BCom exams continue. Expecting the college students to appear for the exams amid the ongoing demand to enact the three ILP Bills is unfortunate, O Romen added.
