Imphal, July 05: The anti-ceasefire extension agitation in Manipur claimed another victim, even as tens of thousands of women defied curfew and confronted security forces at various places in the greater Imphal area, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts and at the border town of Moreh tonight in one of the biggest demonstrations against the decision to extend the ceasefire with the NSCN(IM) without territorial limits.

Police and security forces had to fire more than 100 tear gas shells and more than 500 blank gunshots in different areas of Imphal this evening to stop the torchlight rallies taken out by womenfolk from all over Imphal east and Imphal west who were converging towards the hypersensitive zone in Imphal.

Laishram ongbi Sana Devi, 46, of Kwakeithel Moirang Purel died of a stroke after suffering the effects of a tear gas shell explosion during the worst confrontation between the marching womenfolk and the security forces, along the Tiddim Road.

Scores of others were also injured here and at other places, including in Thoubal district, where the confrontation with the security forces turned violent.


TIDDIM ROAD: Security forces fired more that 50 tear gas shells and a huge number of blank rounds at Hodam Leirak on the Tiddim Road at around 8 pm tonight in an effort to disperse thousands of womenfolk who were marching towards Keisampat as part of the mass protest sponsored by the United Committee, Manipur against the ceasefire extension.

Eyewitnesses said the torch bearing womenfolk refused to heed warnings issued by the security forces to turn back, and remained unfazed even after the forces resorted to firing teargas shells.

Standing their ground, they shouted slogans at the security personnel even after the latter began firing warning shots in the air.

A number of youths also joined the slogan shouting protestors as tire security forces continued firing.

Some of the protestors also resorted to stoning the security personnel.

The security forces finally dispersed the protestors by driving an armored vehicle towards them flanked by half a dozen other vehicles, firing in the air all the while.

Sources said Laishram Sana Devi was hit by a teargas shell and was apparently trampled while the protestors were being dispersed, and consequently suffered a stroke.

Dozens of others also suffered a variety of injuries.

Several mediapersons who were covering the incident were roundly abused verbally by some security personnel, who even pointed their guns at them.


SINGJAMEI: Another major confrontation between marching protestors and security personnel took place in the Singjamei area, but this was resolved peacefully.

More than 15 thousand womenfolk, all carrying flaming torches, converged on Imphal along the Indo-Myammar Road.

The first confrontation with the security forces, mostly state police, took place at Naorem Leikai at around 7:45 pm but the protestors overwhelmed the police and forced them to back up.

The police tried for a second time to stop the rallyists at Nameirakpam Leikai, but again failed as the number of protestors continued to swell all the while.

The rallyists then reached Singjamei, where a combined force of the state police and paramilitary warned them that they would start firing if they did not turn back.

The rallyists then turned towards Chingamakha.


THANGMEIBAND: Thousands of rallyists marching towards the Khoyathong crossing along the Thangmeiband road were stopped by security forces near the ABC crossing by firing over half a dozen tear gas shells.


IMPHAL EAST: Rallies were carried out in the Khurai, Nongmeibung, Wangkhei areas by protestors.

Meira paibis converging from Tinsid Road and Kongpal Konsham Leikai towards Lamlong bazar were stopped by security forces who fired serveral rounds in the air and teargassed the rallyists.

Kuki womenfolk from New Checkon also took part in the rally.

Other reports said around 20,000 women torch-bearers converged on the Imphal city centre from the Nongmeibung, Porompat side, but were persuaded to go back, while 10,000 others tried to enter Imphal from the Heingang side and grappled with police commandos.


Nawaz K Thouba reports from Thoubal: Thousands of torchbearirg meira paibis tonight took to the streets at various places in Thoubal district protesting the cease-fire extension to Manipur while violences occurred at Thoubal district headquarters.

More than 100 women including octogenarians received burn injuries in clashes between security personnel and the rallyists while 16 police personnel including the Thoubal SP and some home guards were injured in the clashes at Thoubal bridge, Mela Ground and at Athokpam.

The security forces dispersed a massive rally of more than 20,000 torch bearing meira paibis who were protesting the ceasefire extension defying the curfew at Thoubal.

The torch-bearing rallyists who marched from various places in Thoubal areas converged at Thoubal Mela Ground where they were prevented from proceeding towards the DC office at Athokpam.

Following the police interception, an argument between some youths and security forces occurred which compelled the police to lob tear gas shells and fire rubber bullets.

They also resorted to several blank fires to disperse the massive crowd.

Many were injured in the stampede that followed the firing.

While some of the injured women were given first aid by a local doctor, many of them were later referred to the JN Hospital.

On the other hand, clashes took place at around 8.30 p.m.between youths and security personnel near Thoubal bridge where the former burnt effigies of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, home minister LK Advani and NSCN(IM) leader Th Muivah.

The youths pelted stones at the security personnel who also fired several rounds at them.

Earlier, the police had prohibited male members from taking part in the rally.

However, the meira paibis were allowed to march peacefully.

The enraged youths later resorted to violence.

At Kakching, more than 15,000 torch-bearing meira paibis also took to the streets tonight at Kakching under the aegis of the People for Peace and Social Harmony to protest the ceasefire extension to Manipur.

The rallyists, defying restrictions, gathered at Ithak Ninghtou, Kakching Ningthou Leikai etc at 7.30 p.m.and began to march towards Kakching areas including Kakching Bazar, Wairi and Khunyai Leikai and converged at a late night public meeting at Khullen Khamlangba Lampak.

At Wangjing, around 15,000 torch-bearing meira paibis came out from Landing, Wangjing and Cherapur tonight and marched from Wangbal to Kodompokpi ground protesting the cease-fire extension.

The rally ended peacefully.

Meira paibis from Moijing, Khekman, Thoudam, Keibung Leishangthem villages carrying torches also held a rally shouting anti-cease-fire slogans and burnt effigies of Vajpayee, Advani and Muivah.

Earlier, they were siting in at Charangpat, Athokpam Khunou and other places.


MOREH: Representatives of all communities resident in Morch took out tile torch rally in a peaceful manner from 6 pm to 8 pm today at the border town reports reaching here said.

Earlier in the day a mass protest rally was also taken out at Moreh town.

Around 6000 people of all communities took part in the protest rally, including Tamils, Meitei Pangals, Punjabis, Nepalis, Marwaris, Bengalis.

Biharis, Kannadigas and Keralites, apart from large numbers of Meiteis and Kukis.

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