Source: Agencies
Imphal, August 05:
Several sportspersons, attempting to court arrest here defying prohibitory orders to press for immediate withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Act from Manipur, were today injured when police burst tear gas shells to disperse them, official sources said.
The police action took place when more than a hundred sportspersons, including international and national figures, disobeyed prohibitory orders and forcibly entered the restricted zone near Khuman Lampak stadium complex after curfew was relaxed for 10 hours from 6 AM, the sources said.
When the police objected and tried to prevent their entry into the restricted area, the sportspersons, who had come from Imphal and Greater Imphal areas, tried to court arrest.
This forced the police to burst tear gas shells to disperse them.
However, the exact number of injured persons was not immediately known.
Later, sources in the 32 organisations spearheading the three-week old agitation criticised the "brutal action of the police and commandos on democratic protestors" and said the protests would continue till their demand was met.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Manipuri muslims attempted to court arrest at Lilong, about 10 kms south-east of here, to press for the same demand.
Police and security forces have rushed to the spot to quell them, reports said.