Manipur: Two injured in fresh clashes between security forces and mob; status period

Imphal/Kolkata: Two civilians were injured as mobs and security forces clashed overnight in Imphal city and houses of BJP leaders were torched. Officials gave this information on Saturday. In separate incidents, automatic firing was reported from Kwakta in Manipur’s Bishnupur district and Kangwai in Churachandpur district throughout the night.

An attempt was also made to loot weapons from the Iringbam police station in Imphal West. However, no weapon was stolen. The Army, Assam Rifles and Manipur Rapid Action Force conducted a joint march till midnight in the state capital to prevent the rioters from assembling. A crowd of around 1,000 people came together to try to burn down the buildings near the palace complex.

The RAF fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Another mob tried to set fire to MLA Biswajit’s house. However, the RAF column dispersed the crowd. After midnight, another mob surrounded the BJP office in Sinjemai, but could not cause any damage as it was dispersed by an army squad. Similarly, a mob tried to ransack the house of BJP (women’s wing) president Sharda Devi near Porampet in Imphal around midnight. The security forces chased away the youths.

Earlier in the day, a mob on Friday blocked roads in the heart of Imphal city and torched properties, officials said. Among others, a house of Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh was attacked and burnt down on Thursday night. A godown near the royal palace of a retired tribal IAS officer was completely gutted on Friday.

Security guards and firemen managed to control arson attempts by the mob and prevent the house of the Minister of State for External Affairs from being engulfed in flames on Thursday night. The mob clashed with RAF personnel on Friday evening after setting the godown on fire. Officials said the group also burnt tyres, logs and garbage in the middle of the roads in Wangkhei, Porompat and Thangapat areas, affecting traffic in Manipur’s capital city.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities that broke out in Manipur a month ago. The state government has imposed curfew and banned internet services in 11 districts to prevent the spread of rumors in the state. Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meites constitute about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and mostly live in the Imphal Valley. The tribals – the Nagas and the Kukis – form 40 per cent of the population and live in the hill districts.