Torbung Bangla tense after SF crackdown on protestors
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 03 2023:
Tension erupted in Torbung Bangla under Kumbi assembly of Bishnupur district between security forces and large number of protestors as ITLF tried to push through their plan to convert government sericulture farm into a mass graveyard for those killed in the ongoing violence, on Thursday.
Local source said that large number of Kuki people gathered at Tuibong peace ground in the morning under the aegis of ITLF in preparation for their mass burial programme.
On the other hand, raising strong objection against the plan, around 20,000 men and women from different parts of valley districts marched towards Torbung in the early morning only to be blocked by barricades and large number of security personnel at Phougakchao Bazar.
Bishnupur district police along with additional units of police from other valley districts talked with the central security forces to remove the barricades but the latter refused to do so.
At about 8 am, the protestors breached the barricades and marched up to Phougakchao Makha Leikai, where additional security forces stopped them.
As the crowd of protestors kept swelling, they tried to push through the barricades resulting in a stalemate.
The security forces fired several rounds of live bullets in the air as well as towards the protestors to disperse them.
Some of the protestors fainted and many got injured in the melee, and they were rushed to hospitals by ambulance.
However, another wave of protestors joined the crowd and removed the barricades.
Additional RAF personnel were called in and a fierce confrontation ensued.
RAF personnel used tear gas shells and live rounds to disperse the protestors.
As the protestors tried to flee to safety, many got injured and were rushedto Bishnupur district hospital, where at least 25 injured persons have been admitted.
Bishnupur district police rushed to the spot and prevented the situation from turning ugly.
After the first wave of faceoff subsided, several protestors again marched up to Torbung and kept vigil amid tight security measures.
On the other hand, Kuki militants launched fresh attack on Meetei villages of Kangvai Heikol area and Terakhongsangbi foothills around 3.30 pm, which was retaliated by village volunteers and state forces.
The gunfight continued till late night.
However, there is no report of any injury or casualty in the incident.
Meanwhile, over 4000 Kuki women, who have converged at Torbung Bangla for the proposed mass burial service at the government sericulture farm, which they claimed as a Kuki village called Haolai Khopi, since Wednesday putting up tents retreated from around 12.40 pm following the intervention of the union MoS.
Source further said that thousands of Kuki men and women have been clearing the proposed burial site since the last few days using heavy machineries like excavator.
BSF, CRPF and Churachandpur PS personnel were deployed in the area since Wednesday morning to stop the Kuki people from carrying out the burial service.
However, the Kuki mob forced out the security personnel and continued their activities.
Additional forces including RAF were rushed in and stopped them following which the Kuki mob camped at the nearby village Haolai Khopi, which is adjacent to the sericulture farm.
They sneaked into the sericulture farm in the night, set up tents and occupied the area the whole night.
They even used excavators to dig up burial pits.
Interestingly, both Churachandpur district police and central security forces deployed in the area did nothing to stop the activities of the Kuki mob, which further agitated the Meetei residents of Torbung Bangla giving ground for the large number of protestors pushing ahead to prevent the burial programme.
Comment
