Over 40 students injured in stand off with police in bid to march to Raj Bhavan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 10 2024: Over 40 students sustained injuries today as police fired tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse protesters who tried to march to Raj Bhavan and meet the Governor regarding their demand to dismiss Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh.

The agitating students spent the whole night at Khwairamband Keithel yesterday waiting for the 24 hour ultimatum they served to Governor Lakshman Acharya to act on their demand.

The students were guarded by meira paibi (womenfolk) at Khwairamband Keithel.

Given the tense situation, Imphal West DC issued an order imposing curfew (starting 11 am) .

Over 40 students injured in stand off with police in bid to march to Raj Bhavan :: Pix - David M Mayum

Following the imposition of curfew, police proceeded to Khwairamband Keithel and asked the students to vacate the area using a loudspeaker.

The students, however, ran up to the first floor of Khwairamband Keithel by closing the shutter of the keithel when the police were trying to disperse them.

As things got heated up, students and womenfolk from other places joined the already protesting students at Khwairamband Keithel and they tried to proceed towards Raj Bhavan at around 2 pm .

The police, using a loudspeaker, asked the protesters not to take out a rally as curfew has been imposed.

The students, despite the restriction, took out the rally towards the western gate of Kangla Fort with meira paibis leading them in the front.

The rallyists were stopped from advancing further in front of Gambhir Singh Shopping Arcade by a large number of police personnel.

The police started firing tear gas shells and mock bombs after some students tried to over power them at around 2.45 pm.

The students also pelted stones and fired slingshots on the police, resulting in an intense clash between the two sides.

Peeved by the police action, the protesting students dismantled police booths and barricades in and around Khwairamband Keithel and temporary market shed areas.

Locals of Uripok, Nagamapal, Sagolband and Wahengbam Leikai joined the protest by pulling down billboards and hoardings set up at their respective places and burnt them in the middle of the road.

The confrontation lasted for about an hour.

As the situation simmered down, though for a brief period, some protesters approached the security personnel to make an arrangement to settle the issue.

While a group of protesters were talking with the security personnel, some students and agitators pelted stones at the security personnel again and it compelled the latter to fire tear gas shells and mock bombs at the stone pelters.

Personnel of the Rapid Action Force came to assist the police and they pushed back the protesters up to Uripok Panchi Maning and Wahengbam Leikai.

Over students got injured in the confrontation and they have been admitted to RIMS Hospital.