New Delhi/Imphal, June 5 (IANS): With the arrival of representatives of political parties from Manipur in New Delhi, the battleground for three contentious bills passed by the state assembly has shifted from Imphal to the national capital.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju assured the state BJP leaders from Manipur on Saturday night that if the three pending bills -- aimed at regulating migrants -- are not against any community in Manipur he would extend support to the bills.
The three legislative measures are awaiting presidential assent.
He told state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Khetrimayum Bhabananda and others that several persons had come to him saying that the bills are against certain communities.
Meanwhile, an indefinite shutdown was enforced from Saturday midnight on the Singjamei side in Imphal West district.
Besides paralysing normal life, the shutdown also hit legalised border trade since the Trans Asian Highway No.1 passes through it.
Several women's groups staged a sit-in protest demanding withdrawal of the "cooked up" charges against Khomdram Ratan, the former convenor of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System.
T. Sakhi, a woman activist said: "The government plan was to suppress the popular movement. However, the people's agitation is going on in full swing even after Ratan's resignation".
The outlawed insurgent group, the United National Liberation Front of Manipur (UNLF), has clarified that Ratan is not its member. Publicity secretary M. Shakhen said: "The UNLF has no connection with the Inner Line Permit movement in Manipur. The objective of the UNLF has no connection with the protection of the indigenous peoples."
The Manipur Tribals Forum Delhi also held a protest in Delhi coinciding with the camping of the political party delegates, who are seeking to meet central leaders in the national capital.
Girl students injured in Imphal protest, exams disrupted
Imphal, June 5 (IANS): Several girl students of a school here were injured when they were allegedly beaten by police during protests on Saturday to press for release of two arrested students.
Some of the students of the T.G. Higher Secondary school sustained fractures.
Angry students said that though policewomen were present, several policemen beat them.
"After scaling the boundary wall, we escaped. However some policemen followed us," said a student, also adding that police allegedly passed uncalled for remarks at the girl students.
The students are demanding the release of two students, Bruce and Vidyalakshmi.
Women activists have condemned the beatings of the girl students. Students of C.C. Higher Secondary school also took out a procession and later they burned an effigy of Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh. There were also sit-in protests condemning the attempts to deflect the people's movement.
Meanwhile, the College Students Council formed by ten colleges in Manipur disrupted the semester and university examinations for the release of the two students.
Two groups of students - one wanting to sit for the examinations and the other opposed - had come to D.M.College of Arts, and the first group were allowed to begin the exam, under police protection. However within minutes the other students rushed inside, snatched the answer sheets which were then thrown out of windows.
Examination began peacefully in the D.M.College of Sciences but were then disrupted. However, the agitating students went away when police assured them arrangements would be made for their meeting with top officials to talk about their demand.
The examination in D.M. College of Commerce was also disrupted. Principal T. Ibomcha said that new examinations will be held on the date the university fixes.
College Students' Council leaders said that their stir will continue till Bruce and Vidyalakshmi are released without conditions.
