Curfew relaxed for 2 hours at Wangkhei
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 04 2016: Curfew was relaxed from 6 am to 8 am today at violence-hit Wangkhei area in Imphal West where a violent incident took place after angry locals attacked a ritual complex on May 2 .

No further violence was reported there since the district administration clamped an indefinite curfew under Section 144 in the area where local residents clashed with followers of godman Panthou at Wangkhei Hijam Leirak.

A number of vehicles and other infrastructure were burnt and vandalized at the Panthou Masaikon, a ritual complex dedicated to him during the incident.

The situation is relatively calm in the curfew-bound area.

Five persons, including two police personnel, were injured in the violence which ensued after some parents and guardians tried to collect their children kept at the complex.

Earlier, locals of Hijam Leirak barred devotees from visiting the Panthou shrine following a stalemate that ensued after Panthou asked his followers to dismantle a meira paibi (village guarding womenfolk) shed located near the complex.

Since the incident, the locals remained hostile preventing devotees and followers of Panthou from visiting and leaving the complex.

But the dispute is yet to be resolved.

The protesting side has demanded that Panthou tender an apology to the locals for creating the whole trouble in the area.

The curfew was imposed at Wangkhei, Wangkhei Ayangpalli road, Wangkhei Imphal-Yairipok road, Wangkheimayum Leirak and Wangkhei Pukhrambam Leirak on May 2 .

Meanwhile, the Imphal East district administration has clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 with effect from 6 am of May 4 till 6 am of June 3, reports said.

Comment