Agitators clash police at Jiribam

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, July 27, 2018: At least six agitators and police personnel including two officers and few women police were injured in police clash at Lalpani Bazaar, Sonapur in Jiribam district of Manipuron Friday over the Manipur People’s Bill – 2018. The agitators were against the bill.

The incident occurred during CrPC 144 restriction.

When JAC against Base year 1951 of Manipur People’s Bill – 2018 was preparing to begin a sit-in to protest against the Bill police intervene saying that there is public curfew under CrPC 144.  The police asked them to take prior permission from the concerned DC for the sit-in.

After an agreement was brought between the two sides to get a permission to demonstrate, a group of people started to attack the police with catapults and pelted stones to the security force.

Police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the agitators.

Superintendent of Police, officer in-charge and women police were injured.

The injured people were taken to Jiribam Hospital and hospitals towards Silchar in Assam.

Additional state security force including Indian Reserve Battalion and police commandos reinforced to prevent from further agitations.

It was reported that Bengali speaking people settling in Jiribam took out a protest rally from Lalpani ground to Jiribam DC office on July 25 against the passing of Manipur People Bill, 2018 with 1951 as ‘base year’.

The bill was passed on July 23 in Manipur Legislative Assembly.

According to the JAC said the bill with 1951 as base year violates Constitutional rights of the Bengali speaking people of Jiribam as well as people from other states settled in Manipur like Bihari, Punjabi and Nepali.

The bill is similar to Inner Line Permit System which is implementable only in hill states of India whereas Manipur is a valley state, said a memorandum submitted on July 25 to the Jiribam DC addressed to Manipur governor.