Guwahati/Imphal
As many as two persons were killed and 25 others injured in retaliatory action by security forces after a mob of hundreds tried to storm the office of no less than the Churachandpur Superintendent of Police, after he suspended a head constable whose selfie with “armed men” went viral.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, an apex tribal body in the State, blamed the police for the violence, saying: “If the SP (Superintendent of Police) cannot act with fairness, we will not allow him to remain in any tribal areas. He should immediately revoke the suspension of the policeman and leave the district within 24 hours.” It claimed 25 persons were injured in the security forces’ action.
Officials said hundreds of protesters were seen surrounding the SP office demanding the reinstatement of the head constable, Siamlalpaul, who took the selfie in a bunker of “armed miscreants” and “village defence volunteers” atop a hill. The protesters alleged the head constable was suspended unfairly.
“A departmental inquiry is being contemplated against Siamlalpaul of Churachandpur district police, as a clip has gone viral on social media showing him making a video with armed men on February 14,” the suspension order by the Churachandpur Superintendent of Police Shivanand Surve reads.
Churachandpur is just 65 km from the State capital Imphal. Rival armed groups, the so-called village defence volunteers, belonging to the Kukis and Meiteis have been taking on each other ever since ethnic clashes between the two sides broke out on May 3, last year.
The Manipur police tweeted that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) has fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters in Churachandpur. Several protesters were injured even as tension was palpable in the district.
“A mob numbering approximately 300-400 attempted to storm the office of SP (Superintendent of Police) CCP (Churachandpur) today, pelting stones, etc. The SF (security forces) including RAF are responding appropriately by firing tear gas shells to control the situation. Things are under watch,” the Manipur Police said in the post on X.
Mobs belonging to either side of the ethnic divide have looted arms and ammunition from armouries besides banks, blocked security forces from carrying their duty, attacked a Deputy Commissioner’s office and even torched houses of Ministers and even the Chief Minister.
