Many hurt as students rally turns violent
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Thoubal/Kakching, September 09 2024: A large number of students took out protest rallies in different parts of the valley districts today demanding dismissal of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv over their failure to contain the protracted violence.

As the rallies turned violent at different places, many sustained injuries including police personnel.

A large number of students marched toward the Raj Bhavan through Sanjenthong from the east.

Even though the students were halted by police at Sanjenthong, they breached the security barricade and proceeded toward Nityaipat Chuthek.

From Nityaipat Chuthek, the students marched to Keishampat, Wahengbam Leikai, Nagamapal, Khoyathong and DM University campus.

Many hurt as students rally turns violent

There they were joined by large groups of students coming from different directions.

The students then took out their rally along Khoyathong-Nagamapal road holding a banner "Save Manipur if we are Indians otherwise leave Manipur alone" .

They also used placards which read as "Go back, all paramilitary forces, the mute spectators", "Security Advisor and DGP Manipur must resign on moral ground", "Down, down Central Government", "Down, down State Government, the puppet Government", "Act now of resign on moral ground, dear 50 MLAs/puppets" etc.

Although security forces placed iron barricades at Maharani Bridge to prevent the students from marching toward Khwairamband Keithel, the students broke through the police barricade and proceeded toward Kangla western gate.

Using iron barricades, police again tried to block the rally in front of Congress Bhavan but the student protesters tore down the police barricade and moved forward toward the Raj Bhavan.

The students staged a protest demonstration in front of Raj Bhavan main gate demanding devolution of more power to the State Government in handling security matters.

At the same time, another large group of students took out a rally up to the Chief Minister's bungalow and raised the same demand of granting more authority to the State Government in handling security matters.

Some representatives of the students were later allowed to meet Chief Minister N Biren and Governor LP Acharya at around noon.

The students who met the Governor said that they placed a charter of demands before the Governor.

The charter of demands included dismissal of the DGP and the Security Advisor for they have failed miserably in their duties, reinstatement of the Chief Minister as the Chairman of the Unified Command and withdrawal of Central paramilitary forces from the State as they have been acting as mute spectators, said the student representatives.

The same charter of demands also urged the 50 MLAs excluding the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs to announce their final stand.

They must act now or resign from their elected posts on moral ground, said the charter of demands.

It also urged the Government of India to immediately stop the proxy war upon the Meetei/Meitei.

"Save Manipur for we are Indians, if not, leave Manipur alone to decide its own fate.

Manipur has had enough, we can't tolerate any more.

If the State continues to fail in protecting the lives and properties of the Meitei/Meetei, the students of Manipur will now unite and join the fight at the front using every means to save our future", the student representatives said.

According to the students, Governor Acharya promised to look into their demands within 24 hours.

However, even after this assurance, the students continued their protest in front of the Raj Bhavan, expressing distrust and frustration.

The students cautioned that if their demands are not met within the promised 24 hours, they will intensify their agitation.

The situation turned ugly all of a sudden when some section of students who were present near the Raj Bhavan went up near the main entrance gate of the Raj Bhavan at around 1.30 pm and threw water bottles and pelted stones toward security personnel.

To bring the situation under control, police fired tear gas shells and mock bombs toward the students and dispersed them in different directions.

The confrontation between the students and police continued for around 15 minutes along the roads leading to Keishampat, Sanjenthong, Kangla western gate and 1st Manipur Rifles.

During this confrontation, two students reportedly sustained injuries and were immediately rushed to RIMS for treatment.

More than ten students fainted, and many others bore the brunt of lathi charge and sustained minor injuries.

The Manipur Red Cross Society swiftly intervened, transporting the injured and unconscious students to nearby hospitals for medical assistance.

Despite these clashes, the students remained undeterred, declaring their intention to continue the protest through the night on the streets near the Raj Bhavan or at the historic Ima Keithel in the event of adverse weather conditions such as rain.

Meanwhile the authorities have heightened security in the area.

The protesting students expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the Central forces deployed in the State, accusing them of inaction amid the ongoing violence that has plagued Manipur for over 16 months.

A similar protest rally was taken out from Thoubal Okram to the Thoubal DC office.

As the students submitted a four-point memorandum to Thoubal DC Ahanthem Subhash inside the DC office complex, some other students who were outside started pelting stones toward the DC office gate.

In the stone-pelting attack, five students who were inside sustained injuries while some others fainted.

Later, the students gathered in front of the Thoubal SP office and shouted slogans demanding immediate withdrawal of Central forces from the State.

Police and CRPF tried to control the situation by firing tear gas shells and mock bombs.

In the melee, one police Constable identified as Ningombam Alexander (42) of Thoubal Ningombam was hit by a stray bullet on the thigh.

Another police personnel identified as Md Ismail (46) of Yairipok Bamon Leikai too sustained injury as he was hit by stones.

One ambulance driver identified as Yumnam Sarat (60) of Thoubal Kiyam Awang Leikai also sustained injuries.

All three of them were taken to Raj Medicity.

The students also set ablaze a car (Maruti Alto) parked at the gate of Thoubal SP office.

Vehemently condemning the aerial bombings carried out by Kuki terrorists using high-tech drones, a huge protest rally was also held at Kakching district headquarters.

The rally which started from Kakching Sumak Leikai ended at Kakching Chumnang and it was by and large peaceful.

The rally demanded declaration of Kuki militant groups as terrorist organisations, abrogation of SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups, reinstatement of the Chief Minister as the Unified Command's Chairman, protection of citizens' lives and properties, return of IDPs to their homes, withdrawal of inactive Central forces from Manipur etc.

The protesters also demanded that the Government of Manipur be allowed to act independently.