Ten govt offices torched in hills; rallies held
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 07 2010: Over 12 government offices in hill districts of Manipur were torched as demonstrations like carrying out of rallies and burning down of effigies of Prime Minister, Home Minister and Manipur Chief Minister reported in the four hill districts.

Demonstration rallies galore in four Naga dominated hill districts of Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts against obstruction on way to Th Muivah's visit to Manipur and death of two students in suppressive action of the security force.

As many as 12 district level offices in Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts have been set on fire by miscreants suspected to be supporters of Muivah's visit in the state, police reports said.

A family tries to salvage what is usable after miscreants burned down a government office in Chandel; Naga students's rally in Delhi; a similar rally in Tamenglong

Seven of the burnt down offices were in Chandel district.

The district office of agricultural, horticulture, forest beat, divisional forest and a newly constructed police barrack in Khongjarol and two sub-divisional offices (SDOs) at Chandel district headquarters and Chakpikarong sub-division were burnt down by miscreants last night around the same timing.

Office structures and documents stored in the offices were left only the residue in the arson act, the report added.

At least four offices in Ukhrul districtagriculture and divisional forest offices pf ukrul sub-division and forest and SDO offices of Kasom Khullen sub-division were also burnt down by miscreants in the wee hour of today.

The district agriculture office has been totally gutted while the forest office was saved by the villagers nearby at the start of burning.

The Tamenglong district agriculture office at Dailong village was also torched by miscreants in the early hour of today, the police report said.

Rallies protesting against the state government move to prevent entry of NSCN(IM) general secretary, Th Muivah were also carried out at the district headquarters of Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati district headquarters.

Meanwhile, a report from Mao gate said that no untoward incident reported in the area even though situation remains tense.

The dead bodies of the two students yesterday in police suppressive action to some protestors ransacking a temporary police barrack are yet to claimed by their respective families.

Reports said families with the support of the Naga based NGOs refusing to accept the bodies putting their demands of making way to Muivah's entry into state and withdrawal of the police and security forces from the Mao gate.

Until the demands are fulfilled lifeless bodies lying at the police custody will not taken back, NGOs reportedly pressed.

In Tamenglong district headquarters, effigies of Chief Minister, O Ibobi was burnt down by the protestors taking part in a mass rally organised in protest against the government decision regarding the banning of Muivah's entry and police action to the protestors at Mao gate.