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By India Today News Desk: The situation in Manipur’s Churachandpur town remained tense on Friday night as fresh clashes broke out between protesters and police personnel. The security forces resorted to batons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd that tried to violate Section 144 enforced in the district.
Large gatherings have been banned and mobile internet services suspended in Manipur’s Churachandpur after a mob vandalised and set on fire the site of an event that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to attend. The mob violence was reportedly led by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, which has been objecting to the BJP-led state government’s survey of reserved and protected forest and the wetlands.
Demonstrators came out on the roads in large numbers and set ablaze some vehicles, following which security forces used tear gas shells and blank fire to disperse the crowd.
An order issued by the Home department said, “To prevent any disturbance to the peace and order the suspension of mobile internet services shall be in force for the next five days with immediate effect in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.”
8-HOUR BANDH HITS NORMAL LIFE
The streets wore a deserted look in Churachandpur and normal life was hit as the tribal-dominated southern district witnessed a complete shutdown following the 8-hour call by the Indigo Tribal Leaders Forum (ILTF) demanding the eviction of villagers from protected forests.
The chief minister questioned the “indigenousness” ITLF which called the 8-hour bandh, and said “What indigenous people? We are indigenous people. Nagas are indigenous people. Kukis are indigenous people. What indigenous tribal?”
On Friday, clashes broke out between protestors and police at Sadbhavna Mandap in New Lamka in Churachandpur district, the venue where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to address a public meeting, PTI reported. Chief Minister N Biren Singh deferred the visit following protests and the call for the bandh.
TENSION IN CHURACHANDPUR
Churachandpur town continues to remain tense even after an agreement was reached between the Inspector General and the students’ body leader. According to sources, people are enraged over the non-withdrawal of Police Commando forces from the district headquarters, despite the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum agreeing to withdraw the protest.
Agitated mobs gathered in the Tuibong Bazar area, resorted to burning tyres on the roads and rang electric poles to make their voices heard across every locality. A scuffle broke out between the police and local mobs on the Sielmat Bridge, India Today North East reported.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at the BJP and said, “While entire Team Modi is fixated on Karnataka, Churachandpur in Manipur has turned into almost a war zone only a year after the BJP got a decisive majority in the state. The double engine there is blowing up! Neither the Union govt or the national media is bothered about it.” (sic)
While entire Team Modi is fixated on Karnataka, Churachandpur in Manipur has turned into almost a war zone only a year after the BJP got a decisive majority in the state. The double engine there is blowing up! Neither the Union govt or the national media is bothered about it. pic.twitter.com/RFktOOe4es
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 28, 2023
Stone throwing by protestors, firing of tear gas shells and rubber bullets by security personnel were reported from areas such as New Lamka, Tuibong Bazaar, Sielmat bridge, Lanva bridge and T Champhai, police sources told PTI.
Officials said that police were forced to lob tear gas shells to disperse a large crowd which had gathered in New Lamka and was throwing stones at security forces deployed in the bandh-hit town.
ROADS BLOCKED, TYRES BURNT
Protesters were seen blocking roads and burning tyres in the morning. They had also piled up debris at the entrance gate of the New Lamka town but this was later cleared by police teams, reported PTI.
A huge police force has been deployed at all major junctions and large localities of the town to prevent any unwanted activities, an official said.
“There were no injuries despite the stone-throwing. Deployment of forces will continue to oversee the situation,” officials said.
LOCAL MLA INVITED ME TO CELEBRATION, SAYS CM
A local MLA of 58-Churachandpur Assembly Constituency, LM Khaute, is allegedly attempting to escape the ire of local residents after inviting Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh to the district, India Today NE reported. According to sources, local people perceive Khaute as anti-tribal and he has been escorted by police to Imphal for his safety.
LM Khaute had invited the Chief Minister to celebrate his first anniversary of being elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly. However, the invitation has sparked widespread protests, and Khaute is now facing backlash from the local community.
Singh said his plans to visit Churachandpur district have been deferred after the local legislator who had invited him decided to postpone the function.
(With inputs from Saraswat Kashyap and PTI)
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