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Leaders of Left parties addressing press conference
Newmai News Network
Imphal | January 12
Left parties in Manipur set Monday (January 13) deadline to release Manipur State Council of CPI secretary, L Sotinkumar who is currently in jail. The CPI leader was first arrested by police on the alleged charge of imposing general strike against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on December 19.
Even as the court of JMIC Imphal West released him on bail, he was re-arrested by a team of Nambol police of Bishnupur district where a case was registered against him under section 124(A) (Sedition) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other charges. He is currently in jail after he was sent to judicial custody by an order of the duty magistrate of the district.
Many civil society organisations including women based organisations, student bodies and political parties have been pressing the state government for the release of the CPI leader.
Intensifying its pressure for release of the CPI leader, left parties – CPI, CPI(M), AIFB and RSP – on Sunday demanded that Sotinkumar should be released without any condition by Monday.
Addressing a press conference at Imphal Irawat Bhavan this afternoon, leaders of the Left parties threatened of launching a series of agitations if the CPI leader is not released by Monday.
State CPI spokesperson, Kh Surchand alleged that Sotinkumar was arrested by the police on the charge of supporting the December 19 nationwide general strike against CAA, sponsored by the left parties.
Left parties strongly condemned the detention of the leader in judicial custody, he said, and added that in connection with the arrest, a complaint has been lodged to the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC). The left parties will further lodge a complaint to the UNO, he added.
Kh Santa, secretary of CPI(M), Manipur State Council, observed that arresting Sotinkumar under 124(A) of IPC is unreasonable and if he is not released by Monday, Left parties will launch "intensified" forms of agitations from the next day.
Wife of Sotinkumar, Th Bedamani, who was also present at the press conference informed that she had filed a complaint against the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of her husband to Manipur Human Rights Commission.
