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By Saraswat Kashyap: The situation in the violence-hit Churachandpur district of Manipur continues to remain tense as a group of men set ablaze a forest department building in Tuibong area on Friday night.
Over half a dozen fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the fire that burnt several official documents and destroyed property worth lakhs.
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Churachandpur has witnessed violence in the past few days amid a protest by tribals against a drive to evict villagers from reserve forest areas.
The burning down of the forest department building came days after a mob attacked the venue of Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s event and set fire to about 100 chairs and other equipment. The chief minister has deferred his visit following the violent protests.
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.
To bring the tense situation under control, the Churachandpur district administration has imposed a night curfew in the district, from 5 pm to 5 am, with effect from April 29. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC are in place and the internet will remain suspended until further orders.
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Fresh clashes erupted between protesters and police personnel in Churachandpur town on Friday night, with the security forces using batons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob.
Meanwhile, the Congress has accused the BJP of “bulldozing” the rights of indigenous communities.
“The situation in BJP-ruled Manipur is disturbing. Violence is no solution to any issue. Law and Order has been completely derailed in the state under the double-engine government,” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said in a tweet.
“The BJP is hellbent to trample and bulldoze the rights of vulnerable indigenous communities. We strongly condemn it,” he added.
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