Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 05:
Black flags greeted the Union minister of state for home affairs, ID Swami, and PD Shenoy, additional secretary, home, when they arrived at Imphal airport this afternoon on a three day trip to take stock of the situation in the state arising out of the decision to extend the ceasefire with the NSCN(IM) to Manipur.
The Union minister and his team had to be whisked away to Raj Bhavan surreptitiously to avoid agitated womenfolk who had gathered along the airport road, including at the airport gate itself, armed with black flags.
The Central team, which arrived around noon today was taken to the Raj Bhavan in an unmarked car, leaving the protestors in the lurch.
A few mediapersons managed to get entry into the airport, but had little opportunity to interact with them.
Womenfolk, who were staging sit-in-demonstrations at Tulihal, Sega Road Takhellambam Leikai, and other spots amidst tight deployment of security, were chagrined when they learnt that the visiting team had already reached its destination.
The womenfolk later dispersed at around 4:30 pm.
Other agitators resorted to burning of tyres and other forms of protest.
At the Kwakeithel Bazar junction, a portrait of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was set ablaze among some old tyres.
Angry protestors also demolished the concrete road divider at the junction.
One elderly man, who did not wish to be named, said, �I have come to this.
Don't you understand my hurt sentiments?� while scattering rubble all over the road.
Police and MR personnel did not extinguish the bonfire at Kwakeithel till late in the evening.
To prevent further trouble, curfew, which had been relaxed since 5 am today, was re-imposed from 2 pm along the Imphal-airport road.
Earlier at the Imphal airport Swami told the press during a brief chat that he is here to sort out the ceasefire entangle.
Asked why he did not arrive immediately after the outbreak of public outrage that saw 14 dead on June 18, he said although he did not come immediately, the matter was being discussed at the Central level.