MAFYF president Sapamcha Kangleipal arrested on sedition charge

IMPHAL, May 7: The president of the Manipur Youth Forward Front, MAFYF, Sapamcha Kangleipal was arrested by the Imphal west police on charges of sedition under 124A IPC, Section (9) of Punjab Security Act, 1953 and Section 8 (b) of Assam Maintenance of Public Order this evening around 7 pm from the Manipur Press Club in Imphal. Kangleipal was presiding over a panel discussion today at the Press Club under the theme `Meeyamda Khutlai Sinaba Masina Oihallakkadaba Phibam` moderated by Dr. Arambam Lokendro, coordinated by advocate Khaidem Mani and organised by the MAFYF. Earlier, a strong team of police commandos cordoned off the Manipur Press Club since noon till the end of the discussion and arrested the MAFYF president. On getting information that the police were attempting to arrest the MAFYF president from the Press Club several women representatives of some organisations thronged the press club this evening and threw a human ring around Sapamcha Kangleipal and other volunteers of the MAFYF till the Imphal west OC, inspector RK Khomdon came and issued a arrest warrant for Kangleipal around 6.30 pm. A press statement given by him which was published in local dailies yesterday stating that the government decision to issue arms to civilians asking them to protect themselves had negated the very purpose of an elected government was apparently the cause for the arrest. The police in the arrest warrant charged that the MAFYF president`s statement amounted to sedition and he was arrested under three major Acts including 124A of IPC, Section 9 of Punjab Security Act, 1953 and Section 8(b) of the Assam Maintenance of Public Order. In the meantime, the MAFYF president Sapamcha Kangleipal just before he got the arrest warrant from the police gave a short deliberation that the recent state government decision for supply of guns to the public in the name of protecting themselves from militant activities could never solve the burning insurgency problem in the state. Rather, the government`s step would worsen the situation in the state which could become a meaningless democratic state, he added. Several representatives of women`s organisations accompanied Sapamcha Kangleipal upto the SP Imphal West office after his arrest from the Press Club.