Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 22:
Dozens of people were injured, several seriously, after police and security forces lobbed tear gas shells and fired rubber bullets to disperse thousands of people who had gathered at various places in Imphal this evening to demonstrate against the extension of the NSCN(IM) ceasefire.
Protestors in huge numbers fought a pitched battle with police and security forces near the Palaces Gate traffic and Wangkhei Angom Leikai till late tonight, while other skirmishes took place along the Tiddim road and the Nambul river road.
In an unexpected development, thousands of people, including tribals, who were residents of Khurai, Kongpal, Porompat, Soibam Leikai, Nongmeibung, New Checkon and Wangkhei took a rally at around 8.30 pm tonight.
The rally was stopped by a heavy team of the police and security forces led by the SP, Imphal east at the Palace Gate traffic while trying to penetrate onto the road leading to Sanjenthong.
As the crowd turned unruly, despite repeated warning, police started firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets.
The crowd dispersed but gathered again in increased numbers and retaliated by pelting stones and shooting catapults towards the police.
Police continued to fire tear gas shells and rubber bullets for around four hours, but till midnight they were still struggling to control the crowd which refused to disperse.
The crowd dispersed well after 1 am.
A section of the crowd alleged that the security forces fires live ammunition at them, producing some spent projectiles but this was hotly denied by the police.
Earlier tonight, angry protestors in large numbers made unsuccessful attempts to vandalize the residence of Imphal West district magistrate, H Ibomcha, at Keishampat Laimajam Leikai.
The angry protestors from Keisamthong and Keisampat area came out on the streets tonight around 8 o�clock defying the curfew to demonstrate against the ceasefire extension and killing of 16 protestors by security personnel.
They turned violent and began to attack the residence of Imphal West district magistrate H Ibomcha by pelting stones.
However, their attempt was foiled by the timely intervention of the police who fired several tear gas shells to disperse the violent mob.
On the other hand, large number of demonstrators along the Uripok and Keisampat, Nambul Mapal and Tiddim roads came out on the streets since this evening and burnt tyres at several places along the roads.
Approximately forty people are known to be injured in the various incidents.
Three of these have been admitted to RIMS hospital and the rest in JN hospital.
The three at RIMS include A Chingthang, 18, of Tera, H Boinu Devi, 16 and A Sana Devi, both of Uripok, while the names of the other injured admitted at JN hospital was not immediately available, it is known that two women and one male protestor were injured.
It is also reported that the injured who could not be moved to hospital due to the road being blocked by agitators had to be given aid in nearby houses.