Ex-Assembly candidate held, protestors dispersed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2010: On the charge of having nexus with insurgent elements, one Moirangthem Ashinikumar of Changangei Makha Lei kai has been taken into custody by Bishnupur district police yesterday morning.

Ashinikumar, whose origin is from Keibul Lamjao, is said to have contested the election to the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly as a Samajwadi Party candidate from Thanga AC.

According to Moirangthem Ongbi Anuradha, personnel of Bishnupur district police commandos under Inspector Sudhir and SI Vaiphei asked her husband (Ashinikumar) to accompany them as the district SP wanted to have talks over a cup of tea with him.

When Ashinikumar was taken away from his home in the morning no arrest memo was issued, she informed while contending that later in the day an arrest memo signed by Inspector Sudhir was handed over to the family on the charge that Ashinikumar has links with UGs.

Protestors rally to demand the release of Ashinikumar

The district police have reportedly framed charges against the individual under FIR No.41(4) 2010 BPR P/S U/s 17/20/40 UA (PA) Act '04 .

Information received from Bishnupur district police confirmed arrest of Ashinikumar, who was produced before the Bishnupur CJM Court today and remanded to police custody for seven days.

As reason for Ashinikumar's arrest was not known coupled with the prolonged detention by the police, it prompted a large number of people from Thanga AC to march towards Bishnupur district headquarters late in the night yesterday.

However, security forces prevented the public from proceeding towards the SP's office by using tear gas canisters and mock bombs during which three persons were injured and admitted to Moirang Community Health Centre, a source said.

The injured persons have been identified as N Mema (42) w/o Manisana of Thanga, M Tala (40) s/o Nillo Singh of Thanga Moirangthem and S tomba (42) s/o Shamu of Keibul Lamjao.

Meanwhile, regardless of the police charges, a JAC was formed and under the new body a large number of people of Thanga area tried to call on the Chief Minister, here this afternoon.

The JAC insisted that Ashinikumar was innocent and actively involved in social works.

Convoy of vehicles loaded with Ashinikumar's supporters were halted by security force personnel at Keishamthong Hodam Leirak section of the tiddim Line after which some individuals were picked and allowed to hand over a memorandum to the Chief Minister through his Personal Secretary as the CM was reportedly out of station.

Talking to newspersons, JAC secretary M Amuba cautioned that in case social worker cum political activist Ashinikumar is not released at the earliest various forms of agitation would be launched.

The JAC functionary also confided a public rally would be organised in Thanga areas on April 30 to demonstrate that Ashinikumar is innocent and has been wrongfully confined by the police.

Further asserting that blockade of Tiddim Line, shut of public institutions/offices in the entire Bishnupur district and hunger strike would be organised by the JAC in case Ashinikumar is not released even after the proposed public rally, Amuba announced that if charges being framed against the social worker could not be substantiated the matter would be complained to the Human Rights Commission.