The Orient

Landmine Rally Ends With Lathis And Teargas

Written by Thangkhanlal Ngaihte
Saturday, 24 March 2007

New Delhi: It is yet another beautiful day in New Delhi and yet another day of chaotic protests, slogans, placards, Ibobi Singh-down-down and later police lathis and teargases. The protest rally from Jantar Mantar to Parliament Street held today under the aegis of Kuki Students Organisation, Delhi against atrocities allegedly committed on the Kuki civilians in Chandel district by the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) seems to be organized out of frustration and desperation rather than hopes of immediate succour. And the desperation showed in the end, when the rallyst clashed with riot police, leading to unprecedented police brutalities brought down on the agitators.
No details are available about the injured and those in police custody as this report is being written, but indications are that up to 270 are still be under police custody and an undetermined number of people injured. About 20 people were in hospital with about half of them in serious condition. At least two girls are reportedly still unconscious. Sources also said Delhi Police Commissioner KK Paul and other senior police officials had also visited the injured as this report is being filed.

As the hundreds of placard-holding marchers reached Parliament Street around 2 pm, they were greeted by uniformed policemen in riot gear, standing behind multi-tiered barricades. The marchers, holding placards and holding hands, with traditional drum chiming in the background, rushed onwards and after about 10 minutes of struggle, the first barricades were gone.

Afterwards, a meeting was held at the spot where representatives of various students' organizations, human rights groups and social bodies spoke. Most of them strongly condemned the Ibobi Singh government which this tragedy afflicting the tribals since along time; and the UNLF for brutalizing the hill people this way. They also lambasted the Meitei civil society organizations and human rights bodies, which they charged remained passive spectators and even abettors to the unfolding tragedy. Slogans demanding imposition of Presidents' rule in the state and granting of autonomy to the tribals rent the air. Effigies of chief minister Ibobi Singh and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were burnt.

As the meeting wore on, words came that the representatives who sought audience with either the Prime Minister or President were denied the same and that they could not have even submitted the memorandum. Around 5 pm, an enraged crowd surged forward at the barricades. By that time, re-inforcements of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the Police had arrived along with water cannons. Stones, bricks and fragments of wood fly about, soon followed by firing of tear gases. As the police broke through the barricades, it was a free for all. Every northeast-looking men and women were targeted, beaten, stomped on and hit with sticks. The police chased the agitators till in front of the Janata Dal(United) office at Jantar Mantar Road and beyond. This correspondent saw many people, including girls and elderly people who had entered the buses by then, dragged out and beaten viciously and stomped on with boots. Only very few, who managed to hide inside tents set up around the area escaped the police fury. Some innocent northeasterners, who happened to be in the area for other purposes, were also held by the police.

Today's rally was the second on Chandel landmines and the alleged deportation of about 450 Kukis housed at a refugee camp at Laijang village on March 13. The first rally was held on March 5. The villagers were taken to Myanmar by cadres of UNLF in connivance with elements of the Myanmarese junta and their whereabouts are not yet known, according to KSO sources. The memorandum today demanded action against the underground UNLF, resignation of CM Ibobi Singh, clearing of Manipur hills of valley-based militants, apart from others.

As for media reports about allegations of deportations being found false by a group of Imphal-based reporters, KSO sources here said that meeting in which the reporters took part was arranged by UNLF area commander Pathou, and that the said villagers were saying what was quoted under coercion. This source, which refused to be named due to obvious reasons, also said that the UNLF had arranged a feast of one pig and a cow during that contrived meeting at Khangtung village.


Report: Thangkhanlal Ngaihte
New Delhi.