Pro-ILPS rally disrupted, curfew clamped at Moreh
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 18 2015: Some miscreants today pelted stones at a large number of people who were taking out a rally at Moreh in support of the popular de-mand for enforcement of ILPS or similar mechanism in Mani-pur, and this sparked violent confrontation between two groups of people.

Subsequently, an indefinite curfew has been clamped in the border town in addition to beefing up security measures.

The rally which started from Ima Kondong Lairembi complex at around 9 am was jointly organised by Kha-Nongpok Apunba Meira Pai- bi Lup, Nupi Khunai Chao-khat Lup Moreh and AMSU Chandel District Committee.

As the protesters approached Moreh bridge, they were blocked by police.

But they somehow persuaded the police team and proceeded further.

Soon after, unidentified miscreants started pelting stones against the protesters.

Arson committed after cutting short a mass rally at Moreh

Even as the protesters approached Moreh police sta- tion, a group of well armed persons opened several rounds of fire following which the protesters ran away helter-skelter.

Then the armed persons started vandalising and ransacking vehicles, shops and houses in the area.

They also vandalised offices of ACODOM as well as MCM apart from destroying volumes of documents found in the two offices.

As the situation became very tense, the district administration clamped indefinite curfew at Moreh with effect from 11 am.

Additional security forces were also sent from Imphal to bring the situation under control.

A police team led by IGP (Zone-III) T Guite, DIG (Range-IV) Dr S Ibocha and SP N Herojit rushed to Moreh and they were joined by Chandel DC Kshetrimayum Robert.

In addition, a company of central paramilitary forces has been sent to Moreh from Imphal and the situation is being monitored by ADG (L/O) LM Khaute, informed a source.

After the violent confrontation, the Chandel DC held a meeting with leaders of MCM, ACODOM, HTC and Tamil Sangam at the office of Additional SP, Moreh.

The DC offered compensation from the Government's side for all the properties vandalised or destroyed during the confrontation after assessment by ADC Moreh.

Additional security forces including Assam Rifles troops have been deployed at Moreh Bazar.

There has been no report any more untoward incident so far.

Meanwhile, a joint press release issued by MCM and ACODOM has strongly condemned the act of arson committed at their offices.

They said that they have been working consistently to promote peaceful co-existence and harmony among all the communities of Moreh.

They said that more than 100 vehicles and 60 shops belonging to a particular community were vandalised or destroyed by a group many of whom were heavily armed.

They decried that even as the group was ransacking shops for more than three hours, central security forces were acting as mere spectators.