MUSU alleges threat by cops

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 21: Manipur University Students' Union  (MUSU) has set a deadline of 48 hours before the autho-rities concerned to take appropriate legal actions against two police personnel who allegedly threatened hostellers of the university using their service weapons last night.
The students union further warned that failure to do so will force the union to launch various forms of agitation.
Speaking to media persons at MUSU office today afternoon, its president Kei-sham Lebanand said that the unfortunate incident took place at around 10.15 pm last night, near the joint entrance gate of boys hostel numbers 5, 2 and 3 of the university
He continued that two Manipur police personnel dressed in plain clothes aboard a four wheeler had a verbal argument with one of the hostellers who was coming from opposite direction while passing one another.
The police personnel shouted at the hostellers that they (police personnel)  had guns and none of the hostellers can harm them, he alleged, adding that upon hearing the commotion, a large number of other hostellers began gathering at the spot.
Strongly condemning  such action of Manipur police personnel coming in plain clothes with guns inside the university campus thereby violating the rules and regulations of the university, Lebanand alleged that one of the police personnel, W Robertson, an SI, took out his service pistol from inside the vehicle and threatened the hostellers by pointing his gun at them.
Lebanand continued that fortunately one of the students acted swiftly and hit SI on his hand thus dropping the pistol off his hand.
He claimed that the hostellers overpowered Sub Inspector W Robertson and IRB constable P Bhuto and took them inside the hostel where they were asked about their purpose of visiting the university campus with guns.
Both of them were not able to give a reasonable answer and they also failed to give the name of students whom they claimed to have come to meet in the hostel, he alleged.
Lebanand stated that both individuals were later handed over to Imphal West Additional SP (Law and Order) along with the pistol for taking up necessary legal action against them for threatening the hostellers of the university.
Stating that a complaint has been lodged before OC of Singjamei PS for taking up an FIR, Lebanand appealed the authorities concerned to take necessary legal actions against two police personnel within 48 hours.
If the authorities fail to do so, MUSU will launch stringent agitation, he warned.
The MUSU president further highlighted  that  last night's incident came at a time when the hostellers of the university are yet to get rid of the apprehension and psychological trauma they experienced due to the midnight raid carried out by a combined team of Manipur police and CRPF personnel in the intervening night of September 20 and September 21 last year.