All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors Association
in a statement says that no newspaper shall be distributed on Monday in
protest against the arrest of a newspaper distributor Jiten Thongbam by
the personnel of 40 Assam Rifles.
Reports said that
the personnel arrested him at 7 30 p.m. on Friday. Later in the night he
was handed over to the police station at Lilong saying that he was an
insurgent.
It was also stated that one loaded hand gun and extortion letters were recovered from him.
However
Mr. Thongbam maintains that he is a paper boy and that no gun or
incriminating material was found from him. He alleged that he was beaten
up and a statement was extracted from him saying that he was an
insurgent of Kangleipak Communist party (Military Council). He maintains
that he has no link with the insurgents.
The
Association and other women activists of Kakwa had demanded his
unconditional release. On Saturday evening they also staged a sit in
protest.
As the police did not release him, the Association decided not to distribute newspapers on Monday.
