Arrest of ATSUM leaders :: Protest turns violent; some protesters, cops injured
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 06 2022:
Some students and police personnel sustained minor injuries as a scuffle broke out between the two sides at Chingmeirong this morning over the arrest of five All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) leaders by the police.
Reportedly, a large number of students staged a protest at Chingmeirong under the banner of All College Tribal Students' Union and demanded unconditional release of the five ATSUM leaders.
The scuffle broke out at around 10.30 am after the agitating students started pelting stones to the police personnel.
Earlier, a number of students gathered at Adimjati complex and carried out protest demonstration demanding release of ATSUM leaders who were arrested by Imphal West police on the charge of conspiring to impose blockade in the hill districts of Manipur.
The police, however, didn't allow the students to hold the protest at the site and directed them to leave the place, following which the agitating students tried to protest near the Imphal War Cemetery, but there also, the bid to stage the demonstration was foiled by the police.
Later, the students assembled at Mao Market at Chingmeirong near MBC Church but the police followed them there too and asked the agitators to leave the place.
After their attempts to stage protest demonstrations at multiple locations were foiled, a heated argument erupted between the police and the students as the latter tried to carry out a protest march toward Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak.
The students , however, were stopped by a large number of police ahead of Chingmeirong Traffic Point and pushed them back towards Dewlahland junction.
At Dewlahland, a confrontation flared up between the police and the agitating students as some of the students pelted stones toward the police personnel while the police fired mock bombs and tear gas shells to disperse the agitators.
Some students and police personnel were injured in the confrontation.
Speaking to the media persons, one student of DM College of Arts condemned the arrest of tribal leaders for demanding to table the HAC recommended ADC Bill.
He also condemned the State police for using 'brute force' to suppress the students who carried out a 'peaceful protest' .