mphal/Guwahati
The agitation by Meira Paibis, a grouping of Meitei women, along with six local clubs took a serious turn in Manipur on Thursday when the protesters tried storming police stations and court arrest demanding the unconditional release of the five arrested youths.
The Manipur police had on September 16 arrested the five persons, village volunteers, for carrying sophisticated weapons and donning camouflage uniforms. The five had been produced before the judicial magistrate and remanded to police custody.
More than 10 people were injured when Manipur security forces fired tear gas shells on the protesters while as a precautionary measure, the State government cancelled curfew relaxations in the twin districts of Imphal from 5pm.
Hundreds of protesters holding placards and shouting slogans tried to enter the Porompat police station in Imphal East and Singjamei police station and Kwakeithel police outpost in Imphal West district. The protesters responded to a call by the six local clubs and the Meira Paibis.
However, police and RAF personnel deployed at strategic positions fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Similar attempts to enter Mayang Imphal police station in Imphal West district and Andro police station in Imphal East district were also reported.
All Langthabal Kendra United Clubs Coordinating Committee president Yumnam Hitler said, “The decision to launch the ‘voluntary mass arrest’ agitation was taken after the government took no steps to release the five arrested youths.”
There have been several instances of women-led armed mobs blocking operations of the security forces even as police armouries have been looted and acts of arson and vandalism have been reported by the mobs.
