Imphal, February 24: Intensifying the crackdown on MEELAL activists for the ongoing protest against the Govt's failure to fully implement Meetei Mayek script in schools and colleges, personnel of Imphal East Dist apprehended MEELAL leader Chingsubam Akaba from his Soibam Leikai residence this morning.

President of Meetei Eyek Erol Loinasilon Apunba Lup (MEELAL), Akaba was produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Imphal today afternoon.

Having heard the parties, the Court remanded him to police custody till Monday.

Porompat police has registered an FIR case against him under section 384/427/435/506/124A/153-A/120-B IPC, 3 PDPP Act and 7 Cril Law Amendment Act.

MEELAL activists have set ablaze numerous Bengali script textbooks all over the State demanding the introduction of Manipuri script textbooks since Feb 10.Security personnel have also arrested more than 100 MEELAL activists for burning the text books.

The ongoing stir of burning of Bengali script text books is being directly carried out under the leadership of Akaba who is the president of MEELAL, police alleged and further quoted Akaba's statement published in a local vernacular daily which threatened to totally wipe out Bengali script from the Manipur.

In its verdict, the Court said burning of books is an offence under u/s 453 IPC which is a bailable offence.

However the statement that Bengali script shall be completely abolished from Manipur "promotes or at least attempts to promote disharmony or feeling of enmity amongst the people".

Hence the statement makes out an offence u/s 153-A IPC which is not a bailable offence", the Court said.

In its prayer the prosecution stated that the accused is required to be remanded to police custody to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Considering the allegation against the accused and the submission of the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP), "I find ground for remanding the accused to the police custody", the court headed by Padmeshore said while remanding Akaba to police custody.

The same court also remanded seven script activists including four girls to judicial custody till March 3.The remand was made after the seven failed to furnish bail bond of Rs 5000 with a surety of the same amount each.

The arrest of Akaba has come close on the heels of the Chief Minister O Ibobi's recent appeal to MEELAL members to stop its agitation on the plea that introduction of the Meetei Mayek from the current academic session would be too hasty and impractical.

Comment