ILP: 4 hunger strikers held in Manipur; agitators clash with police

IMPHAL: Four student leaders on an indefinite hunger strike since August 14 over the demand for Inner Line Permit in Manipur were today arrested in view of deteriorating health amidst the agitators clashing with the police.

Police fired tear gas shells and used rubber bullets to disperse the violent agitators who pelted stones and used slingshots to prevent the arrest, police officials said, adding that nobody, however, was injured in the incident.

Another student leader, also on hunger strike, could not be picked up last night due to obstruction by women volunteers of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), which is spearheading the agitation, they said.

The women volunteers had yesterday refused to allow a team of government doctors to check the health of the hunger strikers.