Call to intensify Manipur protest

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Imphal, Aug. 27: Apunba Lup, a conglomeration of NGOs spearheading the agitation against the July 23 killings in Manipur, today called for a civil disobedience movement.

The NGOs demanded the resignation of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and punishment to police commandos involved in the killing of Rabina Devi and Ch. Sanjit, while police seized a consignment of anti-government posters from the office of Super Zed Courier Service here this morning.

The posters contain slogans like “Resign CM Ibobi”, “Repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act”, “Punish guilty police commandos” and “Stop state terrorism”. They also contain photographs of Sanjit surrounded by police personnel before he was gunned down inside a medicine store.

The consignment was apparently brought from Guwahati on a passenger bus yesterday. The police picked up the bus driver, Kh. Peto, and an official of the courier service, Laishram Seityam, 42.

The police refused to divulge any details. Senior superintendent of police, Imphal West, L. Kailun did not respond to phone calls. No Apunba Lup leader was available to confirm the seiz-ure either.

The Apunba Lup has been planning a poster campaign in the state. Its leaders had released some posters, being printed in Guwahati, at a function here on August 23.

In a statement issued today, the working committee of the Apunba Lup called upon the people not to pay taxes and to block government vehicles. It also urged government officials to stay away from their offices. It called upon the people to boycott Ibobi Singh’s family, functions attended by him, all legislators of the Congress and the parties supporting the Ibobi Singh-led Secular Progressive Front.

Protesters continued to stage sit-ins and burn effigies of Ibobi Singh and his legislator wife Landhoni Devi in Imphal West and East districts.

Ibobi Singh, however, showed a firm resolve to remain in the saddle and the AICC appeared in no mood to effect a change of guard.

A senior Congress leader said that the party was “solidly” behind him. The CLP is also supporting his decision to conduct a judicial inquiry in the Imphal city shootout. TT