Imphal, August 31, 2009: After setting September 2 as a deadline for the ministers and MLAs to withdraw their support to Chief Minister O Ibobi, a 10-member women team of Apunba Lup met the Governor of Manipur, Gurbachan Jagat today regarding the memorandum submitted to him on August 11 in connection with the July 23 incident at Khwairamband market.

The women team later narrated to media persons that the Governor had told them that removing a Chief Minister in such circumstances should be done only through political process.

Around fifty to sixty women members of the Apunba Lup came to meet the Governor at around 3:45 p.m.on Monday, but only ten of them were allowed to enter the Raj Bhavan, Imphal.

According to one of the women who had met the Governor, the response of the Governor was negative.

Protesting against the negative response of the Governor, the women took out a protest rally from the gate of the Raj Bhavan towards Tiddim road in Imphal.

The Apunba Lup had demanded the resignation of Chief Minister on moral ground, dismissal of the police commandos involved in the July 23 incident and suspension of higher ranking officers who had tried to cover up the truth about the incident.

In the earlier meeting with the Governor, the Apunba Lup had been assured by the Governor that necessary action would be taken up within 20 days and now that the 20 days have passed the negative response of the Governor was strongly condemnable, said one of the women.

The Apunba Lup has made September 2 as a deadline for all the MLAs and ministers to withdraw their support to Chief Minister O Ibobi.

The Apunba Lup said that in the event of the failure from the MLAs and ministers to withdraw their support, the Lup will start boycotting them.

Staging of sit-in protest by women and students at various places continued in several parts of the state.

Some of the protests were dispersed by police using tear gas shells and mob bombs.

Police tear gas in dispersing a sit-in protest staged at Pangei Bazar organized by the Pangei Yangdong Women Welfare Association and participated women of Waiton, Pangei, Yangdong, Pangei Maning Leikai and Nepali Basti.

The protest was also staged at Chingkhu, Sambrei, Haraurou, Tangkham, morak Ingkhol, Ngairangbam jointly at the campus of the Cosmo Politan High School, Haraurou.

The same sit-in protest was also staged at Yunmam Patlou organized by the Yumnam Patlou United Women Voluntary Association.

Women of the Yumnam Khunou Awang Leikai, Eshingthenbi, Sinam participated in the protest.

Another protest Khundrakpam Mayai Leikai also carried out.

The sit-in protest was also staged at Moirang Kumbi parking where a team of Bishnupur police led by SDPO dispersed.

Police also tried to prevent taking snap by the reporters covering the event.

Students of some schools also staged sit-in protest at their respective schools.

The schools were Secular Academy, Heirangoithong Lairembi Leikai.

Trinity Public School, Momgsangei, Maipakpi New Age Public School, Langthabal and St Joseph School English School, Hiyangthang.

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