IMPHAL: Police on Saturday fired rubber bullets to disperse women who defied curfew and staged sit-in protests at many places here, demanding action against police for the killing of a youth, Chungkham Sanjit, in an alleged fake encounter. Posters and effigies of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his MLA-wife Okram Landhoni were confiscated from them.
Meanwhile, curfew was relaxed from 5 a.m. to 12 noon and there were no untoward incidents during the period. Doctors, principals and other professionals have called for the curfew to be lifted. Hospitals have been deserted for the last eight days as a result of the general strike and the curfew.
The All Manipur Students Union, in a statement, demanded the resignation of Mr. Singh.
It said because of the curfew, students are being denied classes and warned of serious consequences if this continued.
Resignation demanded Meanwhile Apunba Lup, spearheading the agitation, has appealed to the people to come out during curfew hours to launch sit-in protests. Political parties said they would continue the campaign against the Chief Minister until he resigns.
Drivers in Manipur have launched a strike from August 4, protesting against the extortion by militants who had signed a ceasefire with the Centre."
FIR lodged
The mother of Sanjit lodged an FIR at the Imphal West City police station on Friday in connection with the alleged fake encounter.