Imphal, July 29:

Picture from the rally on July 29, 2004

At least 50 people were injured in police action in Manipur today during a massive rally organised by 32 social organisations in the state capital protesting against the custodial death of Th Manorama Devi and demanding immediate withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state, official sources said.

However, unofficial sources put the injury figure at 100.

Over one lakh people who had gathered at Thangmeiband Thau ground here initially proceeded towards Khurai, Lamlong, Telipati and Khuman Lampak as charted by the authorities, the sources said.

As the rallyists wanted to fan out to all the major roads, police burst tear gas shells and sprayed rubber bullets injuring several persons, the sources said.

After hectic negotiation, the rallyists then proceeded on the government-charted route with slogans and placards demanding removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, asking the Army and central forces to go back and stop torturing civilians, the sources said.

The rally organisers said they had strongly objected to the route recommended by the authorities and wanted to take out the procession through all major roads.

Official sources said the rallyists had initially followed the government-charted route but when the rally reached the gate of Khuman Lampak stadium as planned, the processionists wanted to proceed towards North AOC Point.

To prevent the people from entering the North AOC Point, the police then burst tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets injuring many of them, the sources said.

After trouble at Thangmeiband Thau ground and at the stadium gate, volunteers of the organisations formed a human chain preventing the people from entering North AOC point, the sources said.

The rallyists then converged at a public meeting at the Khuman Lampak stadium where speakers condemned the police action and demanded immediate withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act from the state.

The organisers told PTI they would continue with their current agitation till the Armed Forces Special Powers Act was completely withdrawn from the state.