Violence erupts in Moreh; indefinite curfew clamped
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 18 2015: The district administration has clamped an indefinite curfew in border town of Moreh following tension after a violent incident that occurred during a public rally demanding Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) on Tuesday morning.

ILPS supporters exchanged missiles and stones with the group who were opposing the rally in the town.

Reports said four persons were injured in the violent confrontation.

Properties were set ablaze during the clash.

The protest rally was jointly organised by All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Chandel District, Kha Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup and Nupi Khunnai Chaokhat Lamjing Lup.

Violence erupts in Moreh; indefinite curfew clamped

It started from Kondong Lairembi Haraopung at about 8:30 am.

Sources said the police stopped the demonstration in front of Customs Office where a melee was reported to have taken place between the two sides.

The protesters then started attacking the police by raining stones on them.

The police returned the attack with tear gas canisters but they failed to control the situation.

In the midst of the standoff, another group who were opposing the rally pelted stones towards them.

The protesters were forced to flee the site as they were under heavy attack.

Not long after the incident, the huge crowd of attackers who were against the ILPS rally vandalized 30 shops and then dragged out all items and set them on fire.

Chandel Police Superintendant of Police N Herojit and his team rushed to the site where a reinforcement team led by IG Zone-2, Guite and DIG (Range-2), S Ibomcha was also called in to control the situation.

The State Government dispatched a BSF company and a Manipur Rifles company accompanied by Chandel Deputy Commissioner Robert Khetrimayum to the town to assist the police in handling the situation.

Later at around 5 pm, a meeting was held at the Police IB in the town which was attended by representatives of all communities of Moreh and Deputy Commissioner Robert Khetrimayum, Superintendant of Police N Herojit, IG Zone-2, Guite and DIG (Range-2), S Ibocha.

The meeting which went on about an hour agreed that all leaders of different communities in the town would jointly tackle any fresh tension among the groups in future and urge the State Government to pay compensation for the loss of properties and injuries inflicted on persons in the unfortunate incident.

Shortyly after the meeting, the district administration imposed an indefinite curfew in the entire Moreh town from 6 pm.