Rally staged defying curfew
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 05 2009: Heeding the call of the Apunba Lup and defying the curfew imposed by the State Govt, a large number of women staged torch rallies in different parts of the State today evening, to condemn the July 23 BT Road incident and to demand punishment of the guilty police commandos.

Women folk staging the rally and cops in full riot gears

Police in full strength were out in full strength, patrolling the streets to foil the rally and they fired tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse the women folk.

The rally was taken out despite the Chief Minister announcing the suspension of six police commandos and institution of a Judicial Inquiry.

Rallies were staged at Malom while at Chingmeirong police dispersed a large number of women who had come out to stage the rally.

Similarly police cracked down on the rallyists at other places including Khurai, Singjamei, Thangmeiband etc.

At Irilbung, police pushed back the rallyists when they tried to march towards the police station.

Meanwhile, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) has submitted memoranda to the Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson and the Governor of the State demanding removal of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh if he does not resign from his post voluntarily.

Other demands highlighted in the memorandum including punishment of involved police commandos and stopping State terrorism, convening a midnight session of the State Assembly so that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who misled the House members on the incident can make a public apology and take a resolution to the effect of rectification of the proceeding of the House of that day.