Imphal, April 17: At least 17 persons including women were injured in a police action on Monday night while taking part in a protest demanding the construction of a hospital at Khundrakpam in Imphal East district of Manipur, police said on Tuesday.
According to reports, the protesters were demanding the construction of the hospital in Sagolmang area, while the state's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is believed to be giving final touches to a plan to construct the same in Keirao constituency of the state.
The police resorted to a cane-charge and used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, which left 17 persons injured.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said: "The government had planned some years ago to construct the hospital at Sagolmang. However, since a land dispute arose there, it was decided that the proposed hospital would be shifted to the Keirao constituency."
T. Lokeswor, a Congress MLA and a former speaker said: "If there is a land dispute obstructing the construction of the hospital, the government should put out documents in the public domain."
Some activists felt that the people of the constituency and the neighbouring areas should not be punished in this manner simply because the elected representative belongs to the opposition Congress.
Monday's torchlight procession of thousands of people, who walked over 15 km, is the second such protest in the recent past.
S. Yaiskul, Convener of the Joint Action Committee opposing the plan to shift the hospital, said: "Majority of the people in the Khundrakpam constituency are below the poverty line. They can't afford the medical bills for quality treatment in Manipur or other states. We shall not rest till the government reverts its decision."
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Malegaon blast trial: Court issues bailable warrant against Pragya Thakur
Mumbai, Nov 5: A special NIA court here on Tuesday issued a bailable warrant against BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, for failing to attend the proceedings.
Final arguments were going on and the presence of the accused is necessary, special judge A K Lahoti noted as he issued a bailable warrant of Rs 10,000 against Thakur.
The warrant is `returnable' by November 13 which means Thakur will have to appear before the court by then and get it cancelled.
The BJP leader's lawyer cited her health problems while requesting the special court for National Investigation Agency cases to grant her reasonable time to remain present.
But the court noted that Thakur, the accused number 1, had not attended the proceedings since June 4.
Her past applications for exemption on the grounds of illness and hospitalization were considered from time to time, the special judge said.
"Today, the application was filed, along with a xerox copy of the medical certificate, showing she is undergoing ayurvedic treatment, but the original certificate is not annexed," the court said while rejecting her plea.
Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town in north Maharashtra about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008.
Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and five others are on trial for alleged involvement in the blast conspiracy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The case was initially probed by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, before being transferred to the National Investigation Agency in 2011.
