Imphal burns for third successive day, Film Forum Manipur Chairman's residence attacked twice
Pitched battles at Thangmeiband, curfew in 4 dists
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 24 2012:
The capital city of Imphal continued to burn for the third successive day, with bandh supporters engaging the police in pitched battles at different places across Imphal today.
Trouble broke out from morning today with a mob attempting to attack the residence of the Chairman of Film Forum, Manipur L Surjakanta Sharma following his announcement that the bandh has been relaxed from midnight of December 23 till midnight of December 26 in view of the Christmas festival.
A large group of people started gathering from early morning and armed with sticks, stones and other implements, started heading towards the residence of Surjakanta at Nagamapal at about 8.30 am today.
The mob tried to set the house on fire but were dissuaded by the next door neighbours of Surjakanta.
Responding to the situation at hand, a strong police posse arrived at the scene and fired tear gas shells, mock bombs and rubber bullets to disperse the strong mob.
|
The mob also retaliated by pelting stones and other objects at the police.
Shortly later at about 9.30 am another strong mob from Thangmeiband side tried to march up to the residence of Surjakanta.
The cops however managed to stop them near Pukhri Achouba at Khoyathong and after a pitched battle lasting for some time, the mob was driven back till ABC Godown towards the north.
It did not end there for at around 1.30 pm, another strong mob emerged from the side of Kangjabei Leirak Nagamapal and targetted the residence of Surjakanta.
Police swung into action and resorted to a lathi charge.
|
Endless rounds of tear gas, mock bombs and rubber bullets were fired to bring the situation under control.
The pitched battles continued till late into the evening today.
With violence breaking out from early as 8.30 am, the respective district administrations of the four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal clamped curfew from 11 am today and it will be in force till 6 am tomorrow.
Elsewhere the bandh continued to be effective.
At Koirengei bandh supporters blocked the Imphal-Dimapur route.
At Mantripukhri, bandh supporters placed burning tyres and boulders in the middle of the highway.
Numerous vehicles heading towards Imphal were stoned and damaged.
At Thoubal district, bandh enforcers blocked the road connecting Khangabok Part III and Tentha.