Protests rage against assault of artistes; curfew enforced from 7 pm to 6 am
Violences mark day one of indefinite bandh
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 22 2012: Atleast five persons have been injured in police crackdown as sporadic incidents of violence and road blockades marked the first day of the indefinite bandh called to protest assault of three Manipuri film artistes by self-styled Lt Col of NSCN (IM) Livingstone Anal as well to demand arrest of the offender.

While during the day time police teams scurried to disperse the agitators, by dusk protestors, technically, called the shots as civilian vehicles were turned back, the defiant ones stoned and glass pieces scattered on the roads, particularly at Tiddim Line section.

In what could be a sign of the agitators going of control wind shield of a bus (MN01/1884) was smashed in stone pelting by suspected bandh supporters at near Kwakeithel Bazar at around 6.45 pm.

The bus, carrying a marriage party from Moirang, was heading for Khurai Kongpal.

In another incident, suspected bandh supporters overturned a Tata DI (mini truck) this morning at Sawombung area on the Imphal-Ukhrul road leading to injuries of some Village Defence Force personnel, who were travelling on it.

The bandh was comparatively intense on this route which was marked by road blocks, burning of tyres and damage of many vehicles.

Top: a bandh supporter smashes the rear windshield of a vehicle (left), a security personnel removing a blazing tyre (right) and (bottom) youngsters putting up a road blockade

Passenger carriers, stranded in between Khurai to Sawombung were escorted by security personnel till safer zones.

The bandh is being enforced jointly by Film forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council with the support of many civil society organisations.

SS Lt col Livingstone is accused of molesting and assaulting a film actress besides opening fire at two of her male co-artistes who tried to intervene.

The incident took place at a musical concert venue in a Chandel district area on December 18 .

Responding to the bandh call, women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel (market) set on fire effigies of Livingstone Anal and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at two locations of BT Road.

Later, the women vendors headed for the Congress Bhavan office of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) to air their protest against the Chandel incident to the State Congress chief and Deputy CM Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio.

However, as Gaikhangam was not in the office, the protestors circled the traffic island near the western gate of Kangla Fort and returned back to the market place with security personnel accompanying them as pre-emptive measure.

At different locations of the twin capital districts, suspected bandh supporters came out from early morning to block the main roads by setting ablaze tyres and inflammable materials while many vehicles were damaged for defying the bandh, which came into effect since December 21 midnight.

At near Sagolband Bijoy Govinda, people in large number, including women protestors enforced road blockade on the Imphal-Jiribam line.

The agitation turned violent as a scuffle broke out when the protestors tried to snatch the keys of police vehicles.

The police personnel resorted to firing tear-gas canisters and rubber bullets consequently injuring five of the protestors.

The injured persons, admitted to the RIMS Hospital, have been identified as Ksh Kameshwor (42), Konthoujam Romi (17) s/o Joy, Heikrujam Premi (35) w/o H Basanta, Sorokhaibam Genelijam (14) s/o S Bikram and W Yaima (24) s/o (L) L Debananda, all from Sagolband Mabudhou Mantri Leikai.

The five suffered injuries on the legs, abdomen, arms and head areas.

Police also fired tear-gas canisters and rubber bullets at Khurai Lamlong and Yumnam Leikai areas with the police action at the latter provoking more intense public outrage as one of the canisters reportedly landed at the residence of an ailing elderly citizen.

Even though there was hardly any significant impact of the bandh call in the early hours, suspected bandh supporters asked shop-keepers to shut down shutters at the main commercial area while some others cautioned motorists, especially passenger carriers to scurry in case they did not want damage caused to the vehicles.

As the day progressed the market areas wore a deserted look as protestors intensified the agitation by preventing vehicular movement at different locations such as Khurai Lamlong, Nongmeibung, Mayai Lambi, Imphal-Moreh route, RIMS road, Nagamapal, Uripok, Sagolband, Kwakeithel (Mayai Koibi), Tera, Chingmeirong, etc.

Police also used mock bombs to disperse agitators at Pishum Ningom Leirak area along Mayai Lambi while at Kakwa, Khagempali and Keishamthong areas protestors set-up road blockades to enforce the bandh.

On Uripok Kangchup road, large number of bandh supporters came out on the street from early morning and blocked the road at different points burning tyres and putting logs, stones and bamboos.

Near Mohor House, even some vehicles heading for religious ceremonies were not allowed to proceed.

At Bijoygovinda, the road that connects Uripok and Sagolband through Bijoygovinda bridge was totally blocked.

With the barricading of road at Naoremthong Laishram Leirak, office goers whose office are at Lamphelpat also faced lots of inconvenience.

On Takyelpat side, SAI Road was blocked at Takyel Khongbal.

Near the agitation site, popular actor Likmabam Denny while speaking to The Sangai Express strongly condemned the Chandel incident.

He also demanded that the culprits be punished at the earliest.

Report has also been received about inter-state passenger carriers and goods laden truck unable to reach Imphal as bandh supporters laid siege along the NH-39 section at Khonghampat, Koirengei and Chingmeirong areas.

Later in the evening, some inter-state passenger carriers were reportedly escorted upto North AOC under security escort teams.

Caught unaware by the bandh call, which came into effect since midnight yesterday, many people with their baggages were seen walking for their respective destination or relatives' places.

According to our Jiribam correspondent, civil society organisations of the Imphal East district sub-division resolved to enforce the indefinite bandh.

A joint meeting held today at the office of Jiri Ima meira Paibi Apunba Lup cautioning transport operators and shopkeepers against defying the bandh call also condemned the December 18 incident at chandel district.

However, on the first day of the bandh there was no affect on normal activities in the sub-division.

On the otherhand, the bandh called severely crippled normal life in Thoubal district with bandh supporters damaging vehicles including a private car and Maruti Van at Pallel area, where over 100 vehicles coming from Moreh side were stranded for some hours at Pallel check-post.

Thoubal correspondent of TSE reported that the stranded vehicles were escorted by a police team led by SP (Thoubal) towards imphal.

women folk staged sit-indemonstration at Heirok Bazar which was followed by burning of Livingstone's effigy.

Road blocks were put up at Yairipok, Kakching and Thoubal district headquarters.

Business establishments also remained shut in response to the bandh call.