At least 10 people were left injured on Thursday when security forces fired tear gas shells on protesters who were trying to storm police stations across three districts and demanded the unconditional release of five arrested village defence volunteers by Manipur Police. The protestors had launched a ‘voluntary mass arrest’ agitation demanding the release of the villagers, reports PTI.
The state government has cancelled curfew relaxations in the Imphal West and Imphal East districts of the state from 5 PM as a precautionary measure.
Responding to a call by six local clubs and Meira Paibis, hundreds of protesters holding placards and shouting slogans tried to enter the Porompat police station in Imphal East and Singjamei police station and Kwakeithel police outpost in Imphal West district. Similar attempts to enter Mayang Imphal police station in Imphal West district and Andro police station in Imphal East district were also reported.
The Meira Paibis, also known as Imas or Mothers of Manipur, are Meitei women who come from all sections of society in the Imphal valley.
Police and RAF personnel deployed at strategic positions fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
On September 16, the Manipur Police had arrested five people for carrying sophisticated weapons and donning camouflage uniforms.
A protester, identified as Th Bimola at Porompat told PTI, “We were left with no option but to court arrest as the government failed to release the five village volunteers. If such village volunteers are arrested, who will protect the Meitei villages in the periphery of the hills and the valley Kuki Zo militants.”
All Langthabal Kendra United Clubs Coordinating Committee president Yumnam Hitler said that the decision to launch the ‘voluntary mass arrest’ agitation was taken after the government took no steps to release the five arrested youths.