Cops crackdown cuts short protest against NIT site
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 19: The morning to dusk bandh called by the KSO in collaboration with the JAC for Protection of Residential Area, Langol and the JAC for Preservation of Lamphelpat as Wetland in Langol area was cut short in view of the Panchayat elections held today.

Imposed since 11 am, the bandh was lifted at 1 pm.

It is reported that 11 bandh supporters were pulled up by security forces for creating disturbances to the public.

Activists against the NIT block the road and before Lamphel PS after their members were picked up

During the bandh hours, all shops and markets in Langol area remained closed except pharmacies.

All passenger vehicles were blocked.

The bandh supporters also piled up boulders, timbers and burnt tyres in different parts of the roads in Langol area.

Following a ruckus created by some bandh supporters under the JACs, 11 persons were pulled up by IRB and MR personnel stationed there and handed over to Lamphel police station.

However, shortly after a large number of women stormed the Lamphel PS demanding immediate release of the arrested persons.

As demanded by the womenfolk, the 11 detained persons were released a little later without any condition.

After 1 pm, the bandh was lifted and all the shops were allowed to open.

Meanwhile, a joint statement issued by the JAC for Protection of 91 Meitei Langol Patta land/Residential Area and the JAC for Preservation of Lamphelpat as Wetland asserted that today's bandh should be an eye opener for the State Government "not to trample on the rights of the people for too long".

Decrying the alleged indifferent attitude of the Government to any people's issue until and unless people take recourse to bandhs, strikes and violent agitation, the two JACs warned that more drastic steps will be taken up and the movement will be taken to the people unless the Government change its alleged destructive policies.

While urging the Govt to shift the NIT to somewhere else, the two JACs, taking serious note of the attitude of the Govt, callED upon the people and civil societies to give support.