No let up in public protest against BT Road killings
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 30 2009: In denunciation of the July 23 BT Road firing, and continuing the demand for the resignation of the Chief Minister, sit-in demonstrations as well as protest rallies were held at Khurai areas today with police personnel bursting tear gas and stun bombs to disperse the agitators.

responding to the call of the Apunba Lup to sustain the public movement against the alleged high-handedness of police commandos, large number of women protestors from Kangla Shangomshang and Kangla Siphai villages in Imphal East district converged at Khurai Popular High School from where the protest rally was to be kicked off.

Women activists stand their ground in front of a cop

The women protestors, who had staged sit-in-protest at their respective villages earlier in the day, were on their way towards Khurai Lamlong Keithel when police personnel fired tear gas shells and mock (stun) bombs to disperse them.

Holding placards and banners, reiterating demands for punishment of the police commandos involved in the BT Road firing and resignation of the Chief Minister on moral ground, the protestors also shouted slogans opposing institution of the Judicial Inquiry, end to gun culture and killing of innocent civilians by security personnel.

Effigies of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and his MLA wife Landhoni Devi were also burnt by the protestors.

as a consequence of the police action, women vendors in Lamlong Keithel ran helter skelter resulting in an elderly woman losing consciousness.

Condemning the police crackdown on the peaceful form of protest, market vendors questioned the Government's intention/policy of applying force to subdue the people's movement.

It is also informed that the protestors had cautioned the police contingent of enforcing bandh in case force was used to disperse them which went unheeded from the side of the security force.

consequently, traffic along the Tinsid Road was promptly blocked by the protestors.

Protest sessions/rallies were also held at singjamei and Khongjom Bazar areas today.

The Apunba Lup had earlier stated that there would be no let up in the agitation.