Newmai News Network
Imphal: A mass sit-in-protest staged at Khurai Lamlong Bazar of Imphal East district on Sunday demanded unconditional release of six persons arrested by the police in connection with a recent arm looting case.
A mob on February 13 night stormed the post of 5th IRB at Chingarel in Imphal East and allegedly looted around 15 different types of arms with ammunition. On the following day, the police arrested the six persons allegedly involved in the case. They were currently in jail after a local court remanded them to judicial custody till February 28.
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Claiming that the six persons are innocent, earning a livelihood from day-to-day available work, various women-based bodies have been pressing the state government to release them without any condition.
Continuing to exert pressure on the state government, a large number of women folk who came from different parts of Imphal East district today staged a protest at Khurai Lamlong Bazar.
“Accusing after arrest is unacceptable”, read one of the placards displayed at the protest site. Others read as “Release the innocent civilians”, “Arresting civilians unacceptable”, etc.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the protest, L Gyaneshwori Devi, a woman leader, said that the six persons arrested by the police are all innocent.
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“They are not involved in the incident. They were just passing by the road on their way back home after the day’s work when they were arrested. Moreover, no arms were recovered while arresting them,” she claimed.
They must be released without any condition, she said while threatening to launch intense forms of agitation if they are not released after the next hearing scheduled for February 28.
Regarding the current turmoil in the state, the women’s leader criticized the incumbent government for its “inability” to protect the lives and properties of civilians.
Civilians are compelled to take up arms to protect settlements in the peripheral areas of the valley after the government failed to protect them, she said.
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If they are not meant for safeguarding civilians, it would be better to withdraw the central security forces deployed in theperipheral areas, she said.
She suggested that the state government should strengthen its security forces so as to ensure protecting the lives and properties of civilians.
The sit-in-protest was jointly organized by the meira paibis (local women bodies) from across the Imphal East district.
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