Large number of students today staged rally to mark the 35th Mikap Thokpa Numit (Realisation Day) 2015 in Imphal city today. Main observance function was held at Pishum Chingamacha, Hao Ground, Singjamei organized by the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) and participated by various civil society groups, community leaders and students.Floral tributes were paid to the memorial stones of Huidrom Loken and Potsangbam Premananda, the two students who died in police firing on April 17, 1980 during the ‘go back foreigners‘ movement taken up by All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU).Various slogans demanding immediate implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the state were used during the rally. A student leader while speaking to reporter expressed apprehension about the safety of the indigenous population due to the rise of outsiders in the state.He said, “The initiative taken up by the present students of the state are inadequate in any struggle as compared to the late student leaders who fought for the state and sacrificed their life in the struggle to save the indigenous people of the state in the 1980.”He continued further that the AMSU had taken up the ‘go back foreigners‘ movement in a democratic way demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System (ILP) which was removed by Himat Singh, the 2nd Chief Commissioner on October 15, 1949 after Manipur had merged to India.Unfortunately in a confrontation with the police force two students namely Potsangbam Lukhoi alias Premanda and Huidrom Lokan were shot dead by the police personnel while many were injured.On the recent passing of the MMRVT&MW Bill 2015, the student leader said that they wanted legislation for protection of the indigenous people and not a law to protect the non-local migrant labourers.
