Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 05 2010:
One Junior High School and three Government offices have been set afire in the course of Imphal-Kangchup road bandh called today against inclusion of some areas of Imphal West district in the draft map of Sadar Hills.
Since early morning, bandh supporters blocked Imphal-Kangchup road at Phayeng by using trees, boulders and burning tyres.
In the course of the bandh, some bandh supporters torched Phayeng Junior High School and a nearby Veterinary dispensary at about 9 am.
A fire service vehicle that rushed to control the fire was blocked by bandh supporters for sometime.
Soon, a team of Imphal West district police arrived at the scene and dispersed the bandh supporters using tear gas shells and mock bombs.
Five women from Phayeng and another two women from Kangchup were injured in the police action.
Though two police men were also injured, there was no report of any one sustaining serious injuries.
Notably, the Junior High School attacked by the bandh supporters was used as polling station for Kangchup DCC of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council.
Some furniture items were also destroyed in the fire.
Two rooms with brick walls were also vandalised by bandh supporters after police left the area.
The two rooms were partially damaged.
But the veterinary dispensary located to the west of the school was completely reduced to cinders.
The raging fire spread to the house of the chowkidar and destroyed it completely.
Chowkidar cum attendant of the Veterinary dispensary Langpoklakpam Ripushit (45) of Kangchup said that clothes, Rs 10,000 in cash and other articles kept inside the house were also gutted.
Local PHSC building was also torched in the afternoon.
After this, a large group of people went to Kangchup Tuikun village with the intention to vandalise the newly built Kangchup SDC office there.
However, the bandh supporters retracted on the appeal of Tuikun villagers without harming the SDC office.
Incidentally, the SDC building was supposed to be inaugurated today.
A public meeting held yesterday decided to call bandh on Imphal-Kangchup road against inclusion of some areas of Phayeng GP and Lairenkabi-Kadangband GP in the draft map of Sadar Hills.
Strangely, this villages located between the junction of Senapati and Imphal West district are included in the former if inhabited by tribes.
Again they are included in Imphal West district if they are inhabited by Meiteis.
In all 29 women protestors have been reportedly arrested by the police in connection with the today's violent incident.