Protests erupt in Imphal
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 7 : Protests erupted in Imphal after a toddler and a five year old boy were killed and their mother critically injured in a powerful explosion at Trongloabi In Bishnupur around 1 am today.
On receiving news of the tragedy, a large number of angry protesters took to the streets early this morning and urged all shops, businesses, and educational institutions, both Government and private, to close down.
The protesters also disrupted traffic by blocking roads with hard objects and burning tyres in various parts of the city.
Locals along Tiddim Road such as Keishampat Junction, Top Leirak, Leimajam Leikai, Hoidam Leirak, Thouda Bhabok Leikai, and Kwakeithel, gathered to block traffic by placing burning tyres and other objects on the road stretch.
Angry local women also forced a team of Indian Army who came in a casspir vehicle to turn back when they attempted to approach Kwakeithel Junction from the Tiddim Ground side.
In response to growing unrest and to prevent any attempt to storm the Chief Minister’s bungalow, the police set up iron barricades at Keishampat Junction.
Meanwhile, protests intensified at Khwairamband Keithel, where protesters marched towards the western gate of Kangla, attempting to storm the Chief Minister’s bungalow.
The protesters demanded that the Chief Minister step down and that an emergency Assembly session be convened.
The protesters overpowered the security personnel at the western gate of Kangla, who had placed iron barricades to block their advance.
To control the situation, security forces fired several rounds of tear gas and prevented the protesters from marching forward.
Eventually, the situation was brought under control, and the protesters were forced to return to Khwairamband Keithel.
People from various areas of Imphal East also attempted to march towards the Chief Minister’s bungalow, but they were stopped by security forces at Lamlong Keithel.
As the protesters refused to disperse, the security forces fired tear gas shells, mock bombs, and other crowd control measures.
In response, the protesters threw stones at the security forces.
There have been no reports of injuries.
In a separate protest, volunteers of the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) took out a rally from Thangmeiband towards the Manipur State Assembly.
They burned tyres and other objects in front of the main entrance gate of the Manipur Legislative Assembly while shouting slogans such as, “Go back Central Armed Forces from the State” and “Step down Chief Minister.”
Later in the afternoon, around 3 pm, a group of youths and women gathered at Khwairamband Ima Keithel and burned an effigy of Chief Minister Y Khemchand under the flyover bridge at Paona Keithel Junction.
Shopkeepers at Khwairamband Keithel also shut down their shops today in protest against the killing of innocent children at Tronglaobi.
Speaking to the media, Thingujam Rani, secretary of the Khwairamband Keithel Sinpham Amasung Saktam Kanba Lup, stated that Kuki militants continue to attack innocent civilians, despite claims by the Centre and the State Government that peace has returned to Manipur.
She urged the Government to take immediate action against the terrorists.
IMPHAL, Apr 7 : Protests erupted in Imphal after a toddler and a five year old boy were killed and their mother critically injured in a powerful explosion at Trongloabi In Bishnupur around 1 am today.
On receiving news of the tragedy, a large number of angry protesters took to the streets early this morning and urged all shops, businesses, and educational institutions, both Government and private, to close down.
The protesters also disrupted traffic by blocking roads with hard objects and burning tyres in various parts of the city.
Locals along Tiddim Road such as Keishampat Junction, Top Leirak, Leimajam Leikai, Hoidam Leirak, Thouda Bhabok Leikai, and Kwakeithel, gathered to block traffic by placing burning tyres and other objects on the road stretch.
Angry local women also forced a team of Indian Army who came in a casspir vehicle to turn back when they attempted to approach Kwakeithel Junction from the Tiddim Ground side.
In response to growing unrest and to prevent any attempt to storm the Chief Minister’s bungalow, the police set up iron barricades at Keishampat Junction.
Meanwhile, protests intensified at Khwairamband Keithel, where protesters marched towards the western gate of Kangla, attempting to storm the Chief Minister’s bungalow.
The protesters demanded that the Chief Minister step down and that an emergency Assembly session be convened.
The protesters overpowered the security personnel at the western gate of Kangla, who had placed iron barricades to block their advance.
To control the situation, security forces fired several rounds of tear gas and prevented the protesters from marching forward.
Eventually, the situation was brought under control, and the protesters were forced to return to Khwairamband Keithel.
People from various areas of Imphal East also attempted to march towards the Chief Minister’s bungalow, but they were stopped by security forces at Lamlong Keithel.
As the protesters refused to disperse, the security forces fired tear gas shells, mock bombs, and other crowd control measures.
In response, the protesters threw stones at the security forces.
There have been no reports of injuries.
In a separate protest, volunteers of the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) took out a rally from Thangmeiband towards the Manipur State Assembly.
They burned tyres and other objects in front of the main entrance gate of the Manipur Legislative Assembly while shouting slogans such as, “Go back Central Armed Forces from the State” and “Step down Chief Minister.”
Later in the afternoon, around 3 pm, a group of youths and women gathered at Khwairamband Ima Keithel and burned an effigy of Chief Minister Y Khemchand under the flyover bridge at Paona Keithel Junction.
Shopkeepers at Khwairamband Keithel also shut down their shops today in protest against the killing of innocent children at Tronglaobi.
Speaking to the media, Thingujam Rani, secretary of the Khwairamband Keithel Sinpham Amasung Saktam Kanba Lup, stated that Kuki militants continue to attack innocent civilians, despite claims by the Centre and the State Government that peace has returned to Manipur.
She urged the Government to take immediate action against the terrorists.