Students burn CM’s effigy

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, September 26, 2018: Demanding unconditional release of arrested Manipur University students and teachers; members of Joint Students’ Coordinating Committee; three members of All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) and two students of Dhanamanjuri College students of burnt down the effigy of Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh inside the campus of the college located in the heart of Imphal.

The students succeeded to burn the effigy in their second attempt. The first attempt was foiled when a police team rushed the site in time and prevented the students from burning the effigy by the west gate of the college campus.

For hours the police confronted with the students trying to disperse them. Tear gas shells and mock bombs were fired to disperse the demonstrating students. While the police were confronting by the gate a group of students burnt the effigy in the interior site of the campus in the late afternoon.

The Manipur University students and teachers were arrested following the police crackdown inside the campus on the midnight of September 20. Nine students and six teachers of the varsity were arrested on the September 20 midnight and the next day.

Six members of the students’ coordinating committee were arrested on Tuesday evening from near Oriental College in Imphal West. Three members of AMSU were arrested today early morning (at 1:30 am) near Dhanamanjuri University gate.

The two college students were apprehended on today during the police-student confrontation.

The six members of the students’ coordinating committee and three members of AMSU were produced at the court of the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal West on Wednesday and they were remanded to judicial custody for 15 days till October 10.

They were arrested following announcement of 48 hours Manipur bandh by the students’ coordinating committee which is a conglomeration of Manipur Students’ Federation, Democratic Students’ Alliance Manipur, Kangleipak Students’ Association, Students’ Union of Kangleipak, Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup and AMSU. The bandh begins on today midnight.