Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 20:
Indefinite curfew has been clamped in Greater Imphal areas from 2.20 pm today following outbreak of large scale violence in the capital today and claimed the life of a man.
The deceased who succumbed to his injuries at RIMS at 10.45 pm today is identified as Laitonjam Raj Kumar (32) of Uripok Sorbon Thingel.
More than 100 persons including students were injured in police action to disperse thousands of students who tried to press their way through police barricades at Shamu Makhong to surrender their books to Governor Ved Marwah demanding revocation of the truce extension.
Police said seven police personnel were also injured in the incident which broke out from around 1.30 pm and continued till 5.30 pm.
Hundreds of students were also arrested for defying the curfew which was announced while the students were on the streets.
They were however released after the tension subsided.
After initial negotiations at Shamu Makhong, nine students and the DC Imphal West E Imocha entered Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor.
The firing began when the students had just started handing over the books to Marwah.
Initially police used water canons to disperse the students.
The students replied with a volley of water-filled polythene bags.
Police, MR, IRB and CRPF personnel resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas and rubber bullets as the sea of students kept on advancing and broke the police barricade.
Complete chaos prevailed for several minutes before the security forces succeeded in pushing back the students and the several women vendors who had been stuck at Khwairamband bazar till Maharani bridge.
Several blank rounds were also fired during the melee.
A short skirmish ensued between CRPF and IRB personnel when the former tried to fire towards the students while the IRB personnel were standing near them at Nagamapal.
Reports said an unaccounted number of persons including students were injured in the police action and the stampede that followed.
Initial reports gave the number of injured to be more than 100.They have been admitted to RIMS Hospital, JN Hospital and other private clinics.
Five of the severely injured persons who have been operated at the RIMS Hospital have been identified as Th Gyaneshwore, S Pyason alias Bungbung (18), B Amarjit (19), Dipu Pal (29) and L Ibopishak (51).AMSU and MSF volunteers evacuated the injured persons.
The office of this daily was bombarded with phone calls from anxious parents inquiring the whereabouts of their wards who had gone for the book surrender.
CRPF personnel severely assaulted occupants of an ambulance belonging to the RDO which was evacuating injured persons near Khuyathong.
An escort personnel of the Imphal East SP was severely injured in the head in stone pelting by protesters who assembled near Uripok Cheirap Court.
The protestors snatched his service weapon.
It was returned later.
A Gypsy (MN-1D/0569) of the SSB was burnt-near Uripok MDS.
Several residents including one non-Manipuri were also injured when CRPF personnel opened fire in Uripok area.
A war of rubber bullets and catapults ensued between security forces and protestors at Uripok Road after the initial bout of violence subsided.