Freedom for R-Day Protestors
Meira Paibis felicitate them:
Imphal, Feb 2: The eight women who were rounded up for reportedly protesting on Republic Day in support of the boycott called by underground groups within the jurisdiction of Lamshang police were released on Saturday.
They were released unconditionally, said the Meira Paibis who were taking part a public meeting held at Mayang Langjing in connection with the rounding up of the women of the locality.
Four cases were registered at four police stations in Imphal West regarding the burning down of the Indian national flag and a copy of the Indian Constitution and carrying out protest by shouting anti-Indian slogans on January 28.
The cases were registered as suo-motto cases at Lamshang, Patsoi, Mayang Imphal and Sekmai police stations based on the reports carried in the local newspapers.
All the cases were registered under under section 124-A of Indian Penal Code, IPC and 2 of the prevention of insult to national honour Act 1971.
One of the cases taken up by the Lamshang police station stated that the suo-motto case was registered based on reports in the local papers that on January 26, 2008, some miscreants in support of the general strike called by a proscribed organization on January 26 carried out anti-national activities.
It stated that protests were carried out at different areas under the jurisdiction of Lamshang police station and during the protest, the protestors used banners, festoons, placards and also shouted slogans such as ‘We reject Indian Constitution’, ‘We want freedom’, ‘Down with Indian colonialism’.
The cases registered with other police stations were also similar to the ones at Lamshang police station.
Under these acts, a person or persons involved in the acts can be given life imprisonment and fine or imprisonment of three years and fine or only fine as punishment. A person arrested under these acts is non-bailable and trial is to be done at the sessions court.
Lamshang police rounded up the eight women on the evening of January 29 and kept them in police custody till Saturday.
However, there were no reports of any rounding up in connection with the cases registered in other police stations.
According to a statement of the SP Imphal west district police yesterday, they were rounded up for taking their statements regarding the protests that were carried out in the area.
All the eight women were released today. The women released are Kangjam Borkanya, 60, Chandam Khomdon, 47, Abujam Kunjamani, 50, Ningombam Ibeyaima, 49, Takhellambam Gomti, 60, Takhellambam Sanatombi, 45, Takhellambam Ibecha, 50, and Yumkhaibam Beta, 40, all residents of Mayang Langjing Taning Mayai Leikai.
On Saturday afternoon, the released women were felicitated by the Meira Paibis of the locality at a public meeting in which the speakers strongly condemned the police.
The speakers at the meeting attended by around 200 womenfolk said that people of the state are suppressed and could not get the taste of being a republic.
Some said that to protest was their right under democracy and attempted to justify the protests that were carried out on the day.
Imphal, Feb 2: The eight women who were rounded up for reportedly protesting on Republic Day in support of the boycott called by underground groups within the jurisdiction of Lamshang police were released on Saturday.
They were released unconditionally, said the Meira Paibis who were taking part a public meeting held at Mayang Langjing in connection with the rounding up of the women of the locality.
Four cases were registered at four police stations in Imphal West regarding the burning down of the Indian national flag and a copy of the Indian Constitution and carrying out protest by shouting anti-Indian slogans on January 28.
The cases were registered as suo-motto cases at Lamshang, Patsoi, Mayang Imphal and Sekmai police stations based on the reports carried in the local newspapers.
All the cases were registered under under section 124-A of Indian Penal Code, IPC and 2 of the prevention of insult to national honour Act 1971.
One of the cases taken up by the Lamshang police station stated that the suo-motto case was registered based on reports in the local papers that on January 26, 2008, some miscreants in support of the general strike called by a proscribed organization on January 26 carried out anti-national activities.
It stated that protests were carried out at different areas under the jurisdiction of Lamshang police station and during the protest, the protestors used banners, festoons, placards and also shouted slogans such as ‘We reject Indian Constitution’, ‘We want freedom’, ‘Down with Indian colonialism’.
The cases registered with other police stations were also similar to the ones at Lamshang police station.
Under these acts, a person or persons involved in the acts can be given life imprisonment and fine or imprisonment of three years and fine or only fine as punishment. A person arrested under these acts is non-bailable and trial is to be done at the sessions court.
Lamshang police rounded up the eight women on the evening of January 29 and kept them in police custody till Saturday.
However, there were no reports of any rounding up in connection with the cases registered in other police stations.
According to a statement of the SP Imphal west district police yesterday, they were rounded up for taking their statements regarding the protests that were carried out in the area.
All the eight women were released today. The women released are Kangjam Borkanya, 60, Chandam Khomdon, 47, Abujam Kunjamani, 50, Ningombam Ibeyaima, 49, Takhellambam Gomti, 60, Takhellambam Sanatombi, 45, Takhellambam Ibecha, 50, and Yumkhaibam Beta, 40, all residents of Mayang Langjing Taning Mayai Leikai.
On Saturday afternoon, the released women were felicitated by the Meira Paibis of the locality at a public meeting in which the speakers strongly condemned the police.
The speakers at the meeting attended by around 200 womenfolk said that people of the state are suppressed and could not get the taste of being a republic.
Some said that to protest was their right under democracy and attempted to justify the protests that were carried out on the day.