Mr. Sapamcha Kangleipal was arrested on charge of “sedition against the Government” and for “undermining the security of the State”, shortly after the public discussion. Besides, the police team forced to switch off the live broadcast of the public discussion through a local cable TV network (ISTV). The police team reportedly attempted to take him away forcibly at the very outset of the discussion.
Soon after Mr. Kangleipal had completed his speech, a (special) police commando team also allegedly entered the hall and a policeman with a black scarf on his face would have pulled him. However, taking advantage of the presence of media and other participants, Mr. Kangleipal sneaked away and went to the dais, where he informed the panellists of the situation and a lawyer requested the police and Government authority to refrain from proceeding to this arrest without legal basis. The police then waited until the end of the programme to arrest Mr. Kangleipal without any legal procedure. The other participants were allegedly forced to left the venue, but they started to confront with the commandos as the police asked them to go away from the Press Club and leave Mr. Kangleipal alone. Eventually the police team picked Mr. Kangleipal up after issuing an arrest warrant and brought him to the Imphal police station. He was arrested under section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code, section 9 of the Punjab Security Act and section 8 (b) of the Assam Maintenance of Public Order Act (FIR No. 129 (5) 08 of the Imphal Police Station).
On May 8, 2008, Mr. Kangleipal was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal, and taken for remand in police custody until May 13, 2008.On that date, Mr. Kangleipal was again brought before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Imphal, and released on bail. However, the police arrested him again inside the court building and sent him to jail under Section 3(2) of the National Security Act (NSA), based on a order of the District Magistrate of Imphal West District of Manipur, who allowed Mr. Kangleipal’s detention on the grounds that “his activities are prejudicial to the maintenance of public order”.
Furthermore, on May 14, 2008, at about 7 pm, the police seized the infrastructures including furniture and documents from MAFYF office, Sagolband Mabudhou Mantri Leikai, Imphal without issuing any memo for the seized materials. On May 16, 2008, the District Magistrate of Imphal West District of Manipur based the grounds for Mr. Sapa Kangleipal Meitei’s detention under section 8 of the National Security Act (NSA) of 1980, accusing him of being a “supporter of an outlawed extremist organisation” (namely the Kangleipak Communist Party – KCP).
On May 17, 2008, MAFYF refuted the charges in a press conference. Besides, on May 18, 2007, a group of protestors gathered at Imphal and proceeded to the house of the Chief Minister, Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, demanding that all charges against Mr. Kangleipal be dropped and that he be immediately released. However, they were prevented by the police from getting near the Chief Minister’s house or meeting him. But he bravely escaped from the jail and he is preparing to initiate protected people’s war against India.
So we observed the Day 7th May as Anti Imperialist Day since 2010. This year also we are organizing Anti Imperialist Day at various part of Manipur by the Youth and students of Manipur. I therefore would like to request you to extend your support by distributing leaflet at Collage and university campus under the banner of “FREE MANIPUR FROM INDIAN IMPERIALIST UNION” “DOWN WITH INDIA EXPANSIONISM”
Mafyf2009@gmail.com
