Amid protests over the killings of two Meitei students from Imphal, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mandal office in Manipur was set on fire by an angry mob on Wednesday.
The office, located in Thoubal district, was targeted by a large group of student protesters, who vented their fury over the killings of the students.
The mob also destroyed the office gate, shattered windows, and damaged the windshield of a vehicle parked within the premises, India Today reported.
Also Read: Two Manipur students who had gone missing in July presumed killed after photos surface
However, this is not the first case where a BJP office was attacked. Earlier in June, three BJP offices were vandalised by miscreants amid escalating ethnic tensions in the state.
Protests over students’ death
A clash occurred on Tuesday night between Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and locals protesting the killing of two students, who had been missing since July 6, prompting the law enforcers to lob tear gas shells and fire rubber bullets at the agitators and baton-charge them, leaving 45 of the protesters, mostly students, injured.
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Following this clash, hundreds of students marched towards the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence on Wednesday as massive protests continued in Imphal for the second consecutive day. The security forces again used tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the mob.
The state has been on edge ever since photos emerged showing the lifeless bodies of Imphal residents Hijam Linthoingami (17) and Phijam Hemjit (20), who went missing on July 6 and whose last phone locations were traced to Churachandpur.
The state government announced that “swift and decisive” action will be taken against the perpetrators, but that has done little to quell the anger from the Meitei community.
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The protests came against the backdrop of the arrival of CBI Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar and five officials in Manipur to probe into students’ killing.
Even as the state government closed down schools on Wednesday in view of the prevailing law and order situation, agitated students came out in large numbers demanding swift justice for the brutal killings.
Considering the tense situation, the district administration did not relax curfew in Imphal East and Imphal West. According to government sources, there will be no curfew relaxation on Thursday either, Indian Express reported.
Manipur CM seeks detailed report
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh Wednesday said that he has sought a report from the DGP on excessive action taken by the Army against student protesters.
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“I have sought a detailed report from the DGP over the viral videos and if security forces are found using excessive force against students, appropriate action will be initiated,” the Chief Minister said.
Pointing out that the CBI team had arrived, Singh appealed to the people to have faith in the investigation.
Biren added that 25 companies of CAPF and two companies of RAF have been deployed in 23 areas of Churachandpur district to maintain law and order. This is in addition to Assam Rifles and state police already present in the area, he said.