Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 16 2009:
Responding to the call of the Apunba Lup, a large number of people courted mass arrest at different police stations today.
Lamlai :A large number of protesters came out to the streets at Lamlai area and marched towards Lamlai police station chanting "Arrest Us".
On reaching the police barricade, police invited eight women protesters inside the police station for a dialogue.
Soon, police asked the other women protesters to go back which enraged the protesters resulting in a ruckus.
To control the situation, police fired tear gas shells causing injuries to a woman and a child.
They were taken to the hospital.
Two daughters of a woman, who was among the eight protesters, taken into police custody earlier on the pretext of negotiation were also taken into police custody at their own insistence.
Lamsang : Around 50 Meira Paibi activists rushed towards Lamsang police station from Lamsang Keithel courting mass arrest.
But the Meira Paibis were blocked by police at Taothong Awang Leikai, about one km away from Lamsang police station.
There the police and Meira Paibis were engaged in a scramble.
Although the Meira Paibis managed to breach past the police barricade, they were again blocked by police who came as reinforcement.
With the Meira Paibis insisting their own arrest, police finally took the Meira Paibis to Lamsang police station in a mini truck.
Patsoi : Another group of Meira Paibis courting mass arrest were blocked by police at Yurenjam before they reached Patsoi police station.
Porompat : The attempt to court mass arrest was foiled by police at Porompat.
A large number of women marching towards Porompat police station, were blocked by police at Porompat crossing.
The protesters could not breach the police barricade.
On their part, Porompat police even halted women passers-by and conducted verification.
Imphal : At Imphal police station, police drove back a group of Meira Paibis undertaking similar protest movement, courting mass arrest.
Heingang : Heingang police fired several tear gas shells to disperse and drive back a number of women activists courting mass arrest.
Lamphel : As a part of the Apunba Lup's strategy of courting mass arrest, in pursuit of justice regarding the Khwairamband Market killing of July 23, around 60 Meira Paibi activists marched towards Lamphel police station courting mass arrest this afternoon.
But they were blocked by police before they could reach the police station.
The women folk raised slogans like "Arrest us", "punish killer commandos", "Resign, Chief Minister O Ibobi" etc.
The women activists coming from Lamphel Sanakeithel were blocked by police near Lamphel Super Market.
At first, there was some scuffling between the two sides, but the Meira Paibis were finally driven back with the arrival of reinforcement.
The Women's Development Organisation, Lairikyengbam Makha Leikai staged a protest demonstration near Lamlong bridge.
They were demanding unconditional release of arrested Apunba Lup functionaries and imprisonment of police commandos and police officers involved in the BT Road killing.
Volunteers of local clubs and Meira Paibis staged protest demonstrations at Hatta Golapati Mayai Leikai, Yumnam Leikai Nambul Mapal, Uripok Khumanthem Leikai, Polem Leikai, Naoremthong, Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal, Tourangbam Leikai, Chingamakha Liwa Lambi, Khurai Soibam Leikai, Ningombam, Charangpat, Sikhong Sekmai, Ingourok and Haobam Marak.
They also burnt effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi and commandos.