Guwahati/Imphal
On a day the strife-torn State’s new Governor took oath, fresh violence erupted as a mob attacked the office of the Superintendent of Police in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Friday evening. The security forces repulsed the attack using tear gas leading to injuries to several civilians. The SP too himself sustained injuries.
Some armed men carrying automatic weapons too were seen seeking to take charge of the highway to enforce the economic blockade. The protestors hurled stones and various objects at the office, expressing their discontent over the ongoing presence of central forces, specifically the BSF and CRPF, in the village, sources said adding several police vehicles parked inside the SP office compound were damaged as a result.
The attack was over the officer’s alleged failure of keeping his commitment of removing central forces from Saibol village bordering Imphal East district “within three hours”. This angered the mob which then attacked the SP’s office. Tribal women from the village were on December 31 baton charged by the central forces during their protest. Members from the Kuki-Zo community had earlier even tried to stop the security forces from dismantling bunkers on the hills.
The attack on the SP office comes even as an economic blockade by a tribal body is underway in protest against the baton charge. Vehicular movement and transportation of essential commodities through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas were restricted on Friday due to the economic blockade imposed by the Kuki-Zo Council village even as another organisation, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), also observed a 24-hour shutdown in the Kangkopki district to protest against the incident. The blockade is in all Kuki-Zo inhabited districts of the State from Thursday midnight till 2 am on January 4.
Attacks on government offices, banks, government officers, legislators and Ministers by both rampaging tribal and Meitei mobs have been a constant feature of the violence in the State so far ever since it first started on May 3, last year.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh welcomed the appointment of former Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla as the 19th Governor, saying his appointment reflects the Central government’s seriousness in resolving the State’s issues.
“Appointing one of the most intelligent and competent persons as the Governor of Manipur during this time shows serious concern of the central government in resolving Manipur issues. I know Ajay Kumar Bhalla, he is well-experienced and held many important positions in the central government, mainly the Home Department. He knows about the Manipur issue very well. I extend my heartfelt best wishes for his successful tenure and look forward to working together towards a peaceful and prosperous Manipur under his leadership,” Biren Singh said in a post on X.
