Commandos pose as KCP, arrest AMWJU's VP
Scribes cease work demanding unconditional release of VP
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 30 2010: Newspapers failed to appear in Manipur Thursday as scribes went on a ceasework strike to protest the arrest of the editor of Sanaleibak, also vice-president cum spokesperson of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) on Wednesday by the police on the alleged charged of being an activist of the KCP (Tabungba) group.

AMWJU decried the charges leveled against its spokesperson, Ahongshangbam Mobi Singh (55), s/o A Lokhon of Thongju Pechu Lampak, terming it as a lie and a fabrication.

It also condemned the act of the police in an emergency general body meeting held yesterday at Manipur Press Club, as a result of which, publication of all the Imphal based newspapers were stopped.

The ceasework strike of the scribes will continue indefinitely after today's publication as AMWJU has decided to go on staging a sit-in protest till Mobi is released unconditionally.

Scribes thronging CM's bungalow to lodge complaint

Mobi was arrested by Police Commandos of Imphal West district in civil dress who came on a rickshaw yesterday around 9.30 am.

Police claimed to have recovered "extorted" money amounting to ' 50,000, two mobile handsets, a LML NV Scooter having no registration number from his possession.

He has been remanded to police custody till January 5 after producing him in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West.

As soon as he was arrested yesterday, scribes gathered at Manipur Press Club and discussed thoroughly the charges levelled against him.

The meeting rejected the allegations against the AMWJU's spokesperson.

The meeting observed that Mobi was called out from his office near Tiddim Service Station and arrested by police commandos in civvies imitating as KCP activists.

The ' 50,000 which police claimed to have been recovered from Mobi's possession was absolutely false.

UG groups had in the past attacked media houses and threatened media persons.

Despite the pleas of the scribes the state police and government had failed to protect media houses and media persons from such repeated threats.

It is in such a situation that the AMWJU took a decision that the media shouldered the responsibility of meeting the UG groups to A Mobi.

Accepting the decision of AMWJU, KCP (Tabungba) group contacted Mobi to meet them at a place outside the state in connection with the said demands.

Since the matter was secret and delicate AMWJU functionaries maintained secrecy and did not inform members of the Union.

On AMWJU's information, the Union said it had no provisions to bear expenditures to meet the UG cadres, the UG group then agreed to bear ' 50,000 for the meeting and assured to deliver the amount to A Mobi's office at 9.30 pm on December 29 .

As per assurance given by the UG group, Mobi waited for them at his office, however, instead of the KCP (Tanbungba) group, two police commandos in civil dress came in a rickshaw and asked him to collect the money.

When he went to the duo he was mishandled and taken into custody.

He tried to fight them thinking they were UG cadres but the persons who accosted them later identified themselves as police commandos.

They effected a seizure of ' 50,000 from Mobi, who was later charged of being member of the outfit and registered a case against him.

He was forced to admit that the amount was seized from his possession.

When some representatives of AMJWU meet him in the police custody, Mobi told that he had not even seen the amount which the police claimed to have seized from his possession.

At the time of arresting him, he had only ' 2000 in his pocket.

That amount was seized with two mobile phones and the key of his scooter.

The question is Mobi went out from his office on foot and how was it that he was arrested with a scooter.

AMWJU has defended all charges levelled against Mobi as fabricated.

Following a general body meeting, some representatives of AMWJU went to meet Chief Minister, O Ibobi through IFCD minister N Biren and Works minister Ranjit.

At the same time, another AMWJU team met Mobi in the presence of Imphal West Additional SP, Ak Jhalajit where Mobi denied recovery of the said ' 50,000 from his possession.

After that the AMWJU, under the chair of its president, Khomdram Khogen held another round of meeting.

The meeting once again unanimously resolved to reject the charges levelled against Mobi.

The meeting also resolved to fight the case in a law court and also decided to launch democratic forms of agitations.

The democratic form of agitations to be launched starting from with immediate effect includes boycotting of coverage of functions attend by ministers and MLAs and government, police achievements.

The agitation will be continued till Mobi is released without any condition.

Meanwhile, a 10 member team of AMWJU met with Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh at 5 pm today and submitted a memorandum to him highlighting the fabricated charges leveled against Mobi and demanded for the unconditional release of Mobi.

After thoroughly examining the contents of the memorandum, Ibobi said that there was a gulf of difference between the police statement and AMWJU's statement on the charges levelled against Mobi and assured of taking up needful action after consultation with DGP and other top ranking officials of the Police Department.

As no definite agreement was arrived at the meeting with Works minister, K Ranjit, IFCD minister, N Biren and MLA Bijoy Koijam, AMWJU decided to go ahead with their planned agitation.

At the same time, AMWJU has also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohon Singh seeking his intervention into the matter.