Police vehicle torched, Govt office sealed
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 05 2022:
Things turned ugly during the ATSUM total shutdown in Ukhrul town late Thursday evening when a mob set on fire a vehicle belonging to Ukhrul police.
The arson left the police vehicle partially damaged as the fire brigade had doused the fire from consuming the vehicle completely.
Reports said that the vehicle was burnt during a brief confrontation that broke out between the mob and personnel of the 6th Manipur Rifles.
However, the police had nothing to do with the confrontation, the report said.
Around 11 pm, shutdown supporters and volunteers gathered near Ukhrul Fire Brigade, Phungreitang and burned tyres, when they heard several rounds of fire shot from inside the 6th MR campus.
The shots could have been fired in an attempt to disperse the mob, the reports said.
This angered the mob who claimed that the security forces targeted them and demanded the MR authority to disclose those responsible for the firing.
A brief confrontation then reportedly ensued between the two sides.
According to the police, a police team arrived at the scene to control the situation.
"We came only to control the situation but then, much to our surprise; the mob suddenly directed their ire towards the police and set our vehicle (Gypsy) on fire which was parked near the fire brigade gate," said a police officer.
He said that the vehicle set ablaze by the mob was the only vehicle allotted to the Ukhrul police station.
A suo moto case has been registered at the police station in connection with the incident, he said.
Meanwhile, the indefinite emergency shutdown which came into force on 2 August ended at 6 am on Friday.
All commercial establishments and private educational institutions have reopened and vehicular movement resumed in the town on Friday.
However, most of the government offices reportedly remained closed for the day, except banks and other essential services.
On the other hand, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) has informed that agitation would continue in the form of indefinite Economic Blockade and picketing of government Offices in support of the ATSUM's movement.
On the other-hand, denouncing the arrest of ATSUM leaders, supporters of the tribal students' body sealed government offices at Chandel district headquarters indefinitely.
The ATSUM supporters termed the government's intention to deny the tribal rights guaranteed by Indian Constitution under Article 371C as unfortunate and pledged unconditional support to ATSUM in its fight to tribal rights.
Cautioning that strict action will be taken against any officials who try to confront the volunteers in near future, the release also asserted that any person found tempering with the pasted slogan will be dealt with accordingly.
Meanwhile, demanding the release of arrested ATSUM leaders, tribal students studying in various higher secondary schools of Imphal took out a protest rally on Thursday.
Large number of students converged at Adimjati campus in Chingmeirong and tried to take out the protest on the main road.
However, before the students could reach the main gate of Adimjati, large number of police personnel arrived at the scene and prevented them from leaving the campus.
As the students could not leave, they shouted slogans like "We Want Justice", and "Release arrested ATSUM leaders" from inside the campus.