Imphal, July 19: Following the continuing public agitation and escalating tension following the killing of Thangjam Manorama by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles on the intervening night of July 10 and 11, two companies of the Rapid Action Police Force (RAPF) arrived in the State on a special military plane from Allahabad this morning, said sources.

Sources further informed that the two battalions belonging to the RAPF 101 Bn Allahabad which include women personnel have been put up at the 1st Manipur Rifles campus.

It also added that two companies of the RAPF had to return from Imphal as the plane carrying them was unable to land due to bad weather conditions.

Deployment of the RAPF personnel at strategic points in the city began at around 6.30 this evening.

Commenting on the arrival of RAPF personnel in the State to quell the violent agitation of the public, Chief Minister O Ibobi today said that he was completely in the dark regarding trie arrival of RAPF personnel in the State.

Even as the RAPF were deployed in full strength to foil any attempt to stage the torch rally scheduled to be held today from 7 pm, protestors came out to stage the rallies at different points engaging the security personnel in pitched battles all over.

The situation took an ugly turn at Pishum Thong with protestors engaging the security personnel in a pitched battle for hours.

Two defunct vehicles were put up by the protestors in the middle of the road many blockades were put up at different points.

Police and IRB personnel were also locked in a pitched battle with protestors at Singjamei bazar.

A police personnel identified as L Amah Singh (31) of Haobam Marak, of the Narcotics Cell and attached to police commandos was injured in the stand off with the protestors.

He received injuries on the forehead probably caused by catapults.

He has been admitted to RIMS hospital.

An IRB bus was also damaged in the attack by protestors at Singjamei bazar.

Police and AR were kept on the alert at the foothills of Chinga where the Assam Rifles are housed.

A woman was also injured in the stand off at Ayangpalli.

The woman who was hit by a tear gas canister has been admitted to JN hospital and is identified as Pramodini Devi.

At Lamlong Khurai area police and IRB personnel were engaged in a pitched battle who came from three different directions, Pangei, Tinsid road and Soibam Leikai.

To control the surging crowd, numbering over four/five thousand, the police resorted to tear gas firing, rubber bullets and mockery bombs, while the protestors retaliated with catapults.

A number of people were injured.

Top ranking police officials, including ADGP (LO) C Peter, ADGP (Trg) Y Joykumar and others over saw the police preparations at Lamlong.

As the stand off between the protestors and the police threatened to take an ugly turn the Executive Magistrate of Imphal, Th Deven rushed to Kwakeithel today to ensure that live bullets are not fired.

At Khabam Lamkhai, thousands of protestors took to the street defying curfew.

A confrontation ensued between the protestors and the police for hours.

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