Several women on Wednesday staged a sit-in at Sangaiprou Mamang Gram Panchayat community hall decrying the wrongful arrest of 30 individuals including M Dashwamitra of Konjeng Leikai Pukhri Achouba Mapal in connection with the burning of a vehicle of IG (Zone II), Manipur Police at Kwakeithel on July 17.
The protesters demanded the unconditional release of M Dashwamitra and others while cautioning that the public would resort to a series of agitation if the demand was not met swiftly.
In the sit-in organised by Apunba Naharolgi Sakti and Konjeng Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi, protestors shouted slogans and held various placards decrying the unwarranted arrest of innocent individuals and the unjustified actions of the state forces.
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the protest, secretary of Konjeng Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Konjengbam Ashalata stated that the whole incident unfolded on July 17 when rumours of unverified individuals being transported surfaced in areas of Ningthoukhong, Nambol and Kwakeithel.
“On hearing the report women in the areas flocked on the road and search for any unverified individuals plying on the Tiddim road stretch but the IG’s vehicle was torched by unknown miscreants in the night at Kwakeithel,” she said.
She claimed that Dashwamitra was arrested by police that night when he was out to buy medicines for his ailing older brother at a local pharmaceutical store near Kwakeithel Tiddim.
In the morning we learned that he was arrested on wrongful charges of being involved in torching the vehicle, she added.
She questioned how Dashwamitra could be involved when he was not even near the scene of the crime and expressed disappointment over how the Police could be so reckless in arresting an individual without any valid proof.
As such she cautioned the authorities that a series of intense agitation would follow if Dashwamitra was not released unconditionally.
The women also demanded that the centre and state government resolve the present issue before it spilt out of proportion.
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