Imphal: Police on Monday admitted 25 protesting students in a hospital in Imphal, capital of Manipur state, to administer first aid.
They were on a hunger strike for the past several days demanding the release of their leaders arrested during an agitation to demand reintroduction of the Inner Line Permit in the northeastern Indian state.
The fasting students, who were at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai Community Hall, were shifted to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences as their condition deteriorated.
The fasting students had earlier blocked traffic lying on the busy Tiddim Road. Police used water cannons to disperse the protestors, who resorted to stone throwing. Later, the police fired tear gas shells and mock bombs to control the protesters. The police finally succeeded in dispersing the protestors and evacuating the fasting students to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Women Wing and Students Wing of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) appealed people to support the struggle for the protection of the state’s indigenous people. They also threatened to storm the chief minister’s bungalow and political party offices later in the day.
Speaking to media persons, the convener of Women’s Wing, Thongam Apabi, said that they will also storm the residences of legislators and ministers. She said that the students stir is democratic but the police have wrongly projected as destructive.
The woman leader said it was high time the government was taught a lesson to end its silence on the burning issue. She also warned that the women could sacrifice their lives for the general betterment of people.
The convener of student’s wing, Oinam Nandababu said they will continue the stir although they are aware that the police would be harsh on them.