March to CM's Luwangshangbam residence foiled
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 28 2023: The proverbial lull before the storm.

This was how the day passed off today, with no major incidents of violence or stand off reported, in a sharp departure from the last 48 hours.

However late into the evening, a huge mob marched towards the private residence of Chief Minister N Biren at Luwangshang-bam under Heingang Assembly Constituency resulting in a tense stand off with the police.

As the huge crowd of people marched forward, not heeding the verbal warnings from the police to stop, security forces resorted to firing smoke bombs and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

Earlier before the stand off, a huge number of people gathered and took out a rally to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The rally started from Ibudhou Marjing at Heingang and as the rallyists reached Khabam Lamkhai, they were stopped by the police from marching ahead.

There an agreement was reached and some representatives were then taken to the Chief Minister's official residence to submit a memorandum and discuss steps to pull up the killers of the two young students as well as measures to restore normalcy in the State.

The Chief Minister reportedly informed the protesters that the kidnapping and murder case of the two young students has already been handed over to the CBI to do the needful.

The Special Director of the CBI, Ajay Bhatnagar arrived at Imphal yesterday to overlook the investigation of the case.

The protesters also reportedly urged the Chief Minister to proceed to Delhi, team with up with the MLAs who are already camping there and urge Delhi to work out a solution to the crisis which is set to complete five months.

After the meeting with the Chief Minister, the representatives returned to Khambai Lamkhai where they divulged the details of the meeting with the Chief Minister to the others.

Not satisfied with the response of the Chief Minister, the rallyists then proceeded to march up to his private residence at Luwang-shangbam.

The police who had already gathered more in strength then tried to stop them and an intense stand off ensued.

To control the growing crowd, the police resorted to firing tear gas and mock bombs to disperse the crowd.

The policemen on duty near the residence of the Chief Minister barred newsmen from taking photos of the tense stand off with the protesters.

The stand off started a little after 8 pm and till the time of filing this report well after 9 pm, the stand off ensued.

Reports of tear gas shells and mock bombs could be heard.

Another huge crowd of people also marched towards the private residence of State BJP president Sarda Devi located at Brahmapur Aribam Leikai under Yaiskul Assembly Constituency late this evening.

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