Protest in Chandel as police seize Naga flag
Source: Chronicle News Service

Chandel, August 14 2021: The Naga community of Chandel town on Saturday erupted in anger after police personnel seized the flag of the Nagas installed at Japhou Bazar, Chandel district headquarters in connection with the 75th Independence Day /Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the community.

In the ensuing chaos, the pro testers destroyed a police booth located at Japhou Bazar and set it on fire; They also pelted stones and attacked the police personnel with slingshots.

According to reports culled from the spot, several small Naga flags were hoisted in Japhou Bazar area of the district headquarters on Friday evening in connection with the 75th Naga Independence Day.

However, the flags were found to have taken down by a team of Chandel police on Saturday morning and brought to Chandel PS.

After realising the whereabouts of the missing flags, representatives of Chandel Naga Peoples' Organisation (CNPO) and its units including Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC), Naga Women Union Chandel (NWUC), Naga Chiefs' Association Chandel (NCAC) and others went to the PS around 10 requesting for the flags to be returned to them.

Soon, more people thronged the gate of the PS as news of the missing flags began to spread.

Around 12.30 pm, the number of people began to swell as police refused to return the flags, inviting criticisms and condemnations from the crowd which began to gather at Japhou Bazar.

The people grew more agitated and then proceeded to set on fire a nearby police booth.

They then proceeded towards Chandel PS but were met with several rounds of tear gas shells from the police, the protesters retaliated by pelting stones and using slingshots, injuring two of the police personnel.

The injured personnel have been identified as.Constable RT Choice (27) and TC Anaikham (31).RT Choice sustained injuries on his eye, while TC Anaikham is wounded on the head, a police report conveyed.

Shortly after, SP Chandel Lourembam Deben and other top police officials arrived at the scene and talked with the enraged crowd.

The situation was finally brought under control after police returned the flags.

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