Nganbi dubbed the arrest of Sintha an act of cowardice and asserted that the arrest cannot suppress the agitations.
TFM Desk
Eleven mothers’ organisations and Meira Paibi groups of the state vehemently condemned the arrest of Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) Thoubal District Committee general secretary Sintha Laishram and demanded his immediate release.
A press conference was held on Thursday at CADA office, Konung Mamang, Imphal. Representatives of All Manipur Women’s Social Reformation & Development Samaj (Nupi Samaj), Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL), All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup (Tammi Chingmi), Thoubal District United Women’s Development Organisation (THOUBAL IMA), Nongchup Imphal Palem Ima Apunba Lup (NIMPAL), Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup (NLANL), Apunba Nupi Lup (ANUL) Bishnupur, Ereipak Enat Chanura Loinsillon (EECHAL), Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup , Universal Mothers Organisation (UMO), and Thangmeiband Apunba Nupi Lup (THANIL) were present.
Speaking to media persons AMKIL acting president Lourembam Nganbi said that Sintha took an important role in organising the sit-in at Heirok Part 2 Mayai Leikai, Thoubal District demanding the government to appeal to a higher court against the Judgement of the Lhukhoshei Zou case. The protest was held at around 10:00 am on Wednesday by the Ningol Club Heirok and CADA Thoubal District Committee. A team of Thoubal Police Commando arrested Sintha from his home at Heirok Part III Champrathong after the sit-in concluded peacefully.
According to Nganbi, the police commando who came to arrest Sintha had allegedly said that he was being arrested for sharing photographs of placards urging the chief minister to step down, which was used in the sit-in. “Is urging the chief minister to step down really offensive,” she asked.
Nganbi termed the arrest of Sintha, as if showing that the authority can do anything they wish to, an act of cowardice. His arrest cannot suppress the agitation. Can the police raid for organising a sit-in and confiscate placards and banners, she asked.
She also questioned whether it can be called people’s government if no one can protest or voice their dissent. While making tall claims about “war on drugs” the government has failed to appeal even after the main accused are acquitted. It is nothing but fooling the people, she said and asserted that the mothers will continue to agitate against drug smugglers.
The AMKIL acting president also mentioned that the Mothers’ organisations and Meira Paibi groups have also been agitating against the judgement for the last three months. Representations have also been submitted to the governor, chief minister, speaker, ministers, MPs, MLAs, political parties, etc. They even tried to storm the Manipur Legislative Assembly while it was in session urging the House to discuss on the menace of drugs, she added.