Toll stands at 11; violence, unrest rage on for second day

By Our Staff Reporter 
IMPHAL, May 4: Acts of violence, arson and assault which started from the mass rally organised by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) yesterday raged on for the second consecutive day on Thursday.    
The violence has so far claimed at least 11 lives while hundreds have been wounded and many houses and properties have been demolished or burnt down.
One individual was killed in mob violence at Singjamei Bazar last night where a vehicle was also torched.
In one incident which took place at Kangpokpi last night, shots were fired. As police retaliated, one individual was killed.
In another incident of firing, one more person died at Torbung Bangla.
A mob violence which took place at Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai this morning claimed one life while two other sustained injuries. The other two succumbed to the injuries at RIMS in the afternoon.
There are reports of the killing of one person at Moreh Ward No 7 yesterday and two others at Senjam Chirang today.
One individual who came with an MLA was killed in another mob violence which took place at RIMS Road this afternoon. The MLA also sustained critical injuries and he was admitted to RIMS ICU.
Another man was also killed at Chajing today.
Large scale violence was reported from Churachand-pur, Moreh, Gamgiphai, Motbung and Saikul areas yesterday.
As the mass rally taken out in some hill districts was winding up, one community started attacking another community and many houses and shops were set ablaze and properties belonging to a particular community were plundered.
As photographs and video clips of the acts of violence were circulated in social media, the situation flared up igniting a chain reaction.
A house belonging to a Minister was set ablaze by a mob at Koirengei last evening. Two other houses of the locality were also torched.
As the violence spread like a wildfire, thousands of people were displaced from their homes.
A large number of people who ran away from Sapermeina, Motbung, Kanglatongbi and Kanto took shelter at Sekmai.
A large group of people who were armed with sophisticated weapons set ablaze many houses at Mairenpat, Pukhao and Dolaithabi last night. The attackers also torched all the vehicles including heavy vehicles.
It was reported that all the houses of Ikou were reduced to cinders.
In retaliation to last night’s attack, many neighbouring houses were set ablaze this morning.
As a mob tried to attack a particular locality along Dingku Road last night, one individual was hit by a bullet fired from the locality and he succumbed to the injuries.    
This further enraged the mob and they raised a hue and cry on Tinsid Road.  
A large number of people came out to Tiddim Road this morning and they halted all the vehicles between Keishampat and Imphal Airport and checked if there was any member of a particular community.
At around 11.30 am, one Bolero was set ablaze on Tiddim Road. Subsequently, around 10 vehicles were torched on the road.
House of a former Minister located at Lamphel, another house of an ex-MP located on Langol Road and one house of a former Congress MLA located at Lamphel were set ablaze at around noon.
A mob attacked another locality at Sangaiprou and set afire some houses including the house of an ex-MLA.
In their efforts to control the situation, police fired several rounds of tear gas shells.
Two shopping malls namely; Bazar India located at New Checkon and Vishal Mega Mart located at Chingmeirong were also set ablaze by mobs.
There are also reports of exchange of fire at a locality located close to Laipham Khunou.
It is said that some houses at yet another locality of Mahaballi were also torched by another mob today.
Sources said that some religious structures have also been vandalised or torched since the violence erupted on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a large number of Rapid Action Force (RAF) troops arrived at Imphal today to control the raging violence and bring normalcy in the State.  
Our Moirang Correspondent adds: A large number of families belonging to a particular community who have been living in Churachandpur since a long time back have taken shelter at relief camps opened by Assam Rifles and other Central security forces.
Moreover, around 400 people were evacuated from Churachandpur amid tight security arrangements and lodged in a relief camp opened at Moirang after they were given first aid at Kwakta.
Meanwhile, a team of Manipur Police and a group of hill-based militants were engaged in a heavy exchange of fire at Kangvai, on the western hill range of Phougakchao.
One civilian was caught in the crossfire and sustained injuries on the ear.
He was taken to Imphal for treatment after receiving first aid at Moirang.  
A large number of people displaced by the violence are taking shelter in relief camps opened at Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School, Khoyol Keithel, Ibudhou Thangjing Guest House and Sribon Leikai Community Hall.
Even though around 800 people have been evacuated from Churachandpur, many are still left in the district under a highly insecure situation.
Even as the civilians are eagerly awaiting evacuation, security forces are refusing to evacuate them citing inadequate manpower.
Some of the places where the situation is highly volatile or explosive are Torbung, Bangla, Kangvai and Phougakchao Ikhai but no additional security forces or paramilitary forces have been deployed at these places so far.