Protest leaders walk out on ‘arrogant’ Patil

A seven-member delegation had gone to the Raj Bhavan to meet Patil.

Patil, who arrived here to a heavy police bandobast, held a series of meetings with Manipuri politicians during the course of the day. He told reporters that he had heard the views on the Act and would discuss them with his Cabinet colleagues in Delhi.

He said there were three different sets of opinions on the Act: one group wanted its withdrawal, the other its continuance and the third wanted it to be reviewed.

On the issue of Manorama Devi’s death, which sparked off angry protests on the streets, Patil said: ‘‘No culprit will be allowed to go free. There’s a probe on.’’ He said the situation in the state was ‘‘tense though there has been some improvement.’’

Shortly after the collapse of their leaders’ talks with Patil, hundreds of women carrying torchlights marched through the streets of Imphal, defying prohibitory orders to press for the withdrawal of the Act.

Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh ruled out withdrawal of the Act from the entire state, saying the situation was not ripe as extortions continued and normalcy was still to be restored. Talks between Patil and the agitation leaders took place in the midst of a 12-hour general strike called by Apunba Lup. Earlier, agitation leaders had refused to attend the meeting, demanding the release of one of their top leaders arrested on charges of anti-national activities.