Imphal January 23 (IANS): Hours after being taken into custody for violating curfew restrictions, BJP legislator Khumukcham Joykishan was released unconditionally by a court here on Saturday.
Police said the legislator from Thangmeiband constituency (adjacent to Imphal town) in Manipur was taken into custody as a precautionary measure since there was apprehension that he would violate the curfew restrictions. He was detained at 10.15 p.m. and released at 3 p.m. by the chief judicial magistrate.
The district administration had clamped indefinite curfew on Friday night in some parts of Imphal town to prevent the legislator and his supporters from creating a law and order situation.
Joykishan has been demanding suspension of the construction of the temporary market in a busy Thangal street.
He and his supporters had marched towards the town and bulled through the police barricades, daring police to arrest him saying: "I have broken the law".
Thongam Bisajit, another legislator said: "The agitation shall continue whether Joykishan is released or detained. The Congress government is making its presence felt without caring for the sentiment of the people."
Okram Joy of the BJP also appealed to the government to find an amicable solution.
Hundreds of men and women tried to violate the curfew after the legislator was detained, prompting police to fire several rounds of tear gas shells.
The agitators said they will launch a relay hunger strike from Sunday. They also staged a sit-in protest, demanding unconditional release of the legislator.
HC seeks Manipur state reply on temporary market
Imphal, January 23 (TNN): The Manipur high court has sought a reply from the Manipur state government on the controversy over the construction of a temporary market on a busy road in Imphal city.
The government had started constructing the temporary market at Thangal Bazaar to accommodate thousands of women vendors of the Ima markets, after two buildings were badly damaged by the massive January 4 earthquake. The worst part is both ends of the crowded road has been blocked for the purpose.
A number of civil society organizations has strongly objected to the move citing traffic problems in the already congested Imphal city that will be compounded by such construction.
Having heard a PIL filed against the construction, a division bench of the high court on Wednesday asked the state authorities, including the chief secretary and PWD chief engineer, to submit their replies on the matter within two weeks.
