Ibobi talks tough, says Act will be reimposed

Three days after withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act AFSPA from Greater Imphal, Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh today warned demo...

Three days after withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act AFSPA from Greater Imphal, Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh today warned demonstrators that he would reimpose the Act in the capital if they did not call off their agitation.

8216;8216;The Act has been partially withdrawn as a mark of respect for the demands of the people. After this, they should not get swayed away by emotions,8217;8217; the Chief Minister said. The warning came on a day when tension mounted in the state after a student leader attempted self-immolation and a 23-year-old girl, hit by a teargas shell on August 7, died of injuries.

After hoisting the Tricolour at the Manipur Rifles Ground here, Ibobi Singh also questioned the credentials of Th. Manorama Devi, the 32-year-old whose alleged custodial death on July 11 had sparked the protests. 8216;8216;Who was Manorama Devi? What are her credentials?8217;8217; the CM asked. He later told reporters that she was a 8216;8216;pucca8217;8217; underground activist.

For the first time, Singh accused secessionist and underground groups of influencing the agitation, adding that the call to boycott goods manufactured in India was proof of this.

8216;8216;Who are these people who are calling the agitation? Who are the people who are forcing little children to come out and demonstrate?8217;8217; he asked. Ibobi Singh also accused the meira paibi vigilante women groups of forcing families to send out at least one member to take part in demonstrations. 8216;8216;This cannot be tolerated any longer,8217;8217; he said.

Pointing out that he has persuaded the Centre not to overrule his government8217;s decision to partially withdraw the Act, Singh said: 8216;8216;I have also promised the Centre that if things go out of control, we will definitely consider reimposing the Act in the greater Imphal area.8217;8217; 8216;8216;But if the 32 protesting organisations can ensure that there are no extortions and abductions, if they can come out boldly against secessionist groups and make people feel safe, I will definitely press the Centre for withdrawal of the Act from the entire state,8217;8217; he declared.

The State Government also went for a large-scale deployment Rapid Action Force RAF jawans today in the greater Imphal area from where the controversial Act has been withdrawn.

Story continues below this ad

There were also reports of police firing against protestors after 32-year-old Pebam Chittaranjan attempted self-immolation at Bishenpur, about 30 km from here, leading to 85 per cent burns.

Chittaranjan, advisor of the Bishenpur district unit of Manipuri Students8217; Federation, poured petrol on his body and set himself on fire on the main road in front of the Bishenpur market. He has been moved to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences. where doctors said he had little chance of survival.

With agencies