Troubles mark bandh: Police pick up 20 students
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 26 2009: Violent incidents like setting ablaze, smashing of windshields of vehicles, burning of effigies of Chief Minister, O Ibobi and Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the MU marked the twin general strike called in protest against the killing of MU professor, Md Islamuddin.

On the other hand, in the followed up action to the professor killing case, police have picked up as many as 20 volunteers of AMSU, DESAM and MSF including students for interrogation and searching for pick up more.

The 24-hour general strike called by Pangal Students' Organisation (PSO) ended midnight tonight while the other 12-hour called by the MUSU concluded at 6 pm with violence activities of the strike supporters at various part of the state.

Bandh supporters burn a pile of wood and hay on a road in Imphal

The strike was more affective at the Muslim dominated areas of the state at Lilong, Yairipok and parts of the Imphal east and west.

At Ushoipokpi along the NH-39, police fired several rounds of tear gas in dispersing strike supporters blocking road.

In the act a 25 year old youth sustained injuries at head and other place when he was hit by tear gas and in the baton-charge.

He is treating at Chamber of Commerce Hospital, Imphal.

On the stretch of the highway, protestors blocked the road by burning tyre and debris in the middle of the road.

They also piled up logs to disturbed traffic flow.

Police have hard time to clear the road today.

Protestors also turned up at Khurai Heikru Makhong and blocked the road by burning tyre and debris.

Heingang police dispersed and cleared the road.

In the police baton charges, three people including two women sustained injury.

They were identified as Majira Bibi (32) wife of Md Basiruddin, Alijan Bibi (65) wife of Iboyai and Md Amir Khan (30) son of Md Kayamuddin.

They have been evacuated at JN Hospital.

At Pangei Bazar also, part from blocking the road, students staged sit-in protest marking strong protest against the murder of the professor.

More violent reports come in from Kwakta area of Bishnupur where protest broken down windshields of one Maruti Van and a car.

A Kinetic Honda also smashed by the protestors allegedly for violating the general strike.

Normal life came to a halt in the state due to twin lightning general strike.

It was called in protest against the killing of the professor Md Isamuddin who was the Dean of the Students' Welfare and serving as proctor till his death Monday.

Markets, shops and theatres including cinema halls were closed while transport between Manipur and neighbouring states were suspended because of the strike.

No inter-state bus arrived here in Imphal.

But reports said all kinds of vehicles heading Imphal originating from Nagaland and other places outside the state remained stranded at Sekmai some 30 km before reaching Imphal.

Even though business establishments and educational institute remained close and strike supporters in other parts of the Imphal turned out to the streets and disturbed the traffic till police dispersed them, two wheelers and four wheeler light vehicles were seen plying on the road, though it was not like usual.

All major roads in Imphal wore a deserted look as people preferred to remain indoors, reports said, adding, normal life was also severely affected in the various districts of the state.

Attendance in government offices was reported 'almost nil', while educational institutions, banks and other non-government offices remained closed in response to the strike call given by MUSU and PSU.

At Yairipok, another Muslim dominated area in Thoubal district, protestors burnt down effigies of the Vice-Chancellor, and registrar of the Manipur University where professor served.

Md Islammuddin was the only among the Muslim community in the state served as professor in the university.

An attempted to set ablaze the Yairipok Azad High School was save by the strike supporters who held a meeting Md Islamudin (56), a professor of Economics and former Dean of Students' Welfare and acting as proctor was gunned down by three unknown gunmen on Monday in the university campus at Canchipur, about 7 km from here Imphal.

Meanwhile, Imphal west police are on hectic drive to pick up volunteers of DESAM, AMSU and MSF for interrogation in connection with the killing of the professor.

Among the volunteers picked by the police it included education affairs secretary of DESAM, Arambam Thoithoi.

Other includes Th Lokeshwor, student of MU hailing from Yairipok Ukhongasang, research scholar Ksh Kiran from Kakching Khunou, English research scholar Phijam Dinesh from Changangei, MU assistant librarian, Thoudam Shyam from Thoubal, Manipuri Research Scholar Laishram Joyprakash, Khondram Ranbir of Nambol Leitonjam, Laishram bijen from Sanjenbam Ranjan from Kongpal Rk Suresh from Singjamei and nine other volunteers of AMSU including its Bishnupur branch general secretary and executive members.