CCpur limping back to normalcy, DGP assesses
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
CCpur, April 29 2023:
After the tenseFriday night marked with tear gas shelling by police and clashes between police and protestors, Churachandpur town is gradually returning to normalcy with the resumption of traffic and opening of shops.
The development has come after the lightning bandh called by disgruntled tribal people against government policy on protected forest, reserved forest, wildlife sanctuary, demolition of churches and ST reservation from 11am Saturday was lifted from 3 pm.
Another reason for calling the lightning bandh was against the arrest of two protesters by police commandos on their way back to Imphal from Churachandpur town.
The retreating police commandos resorted to shelling tear gas on their way from Tuibuong till Kangvai and in the process picked up two protestors.
People came out in large number on the streets and put up barriers using logs, boulders, etc., starting from Churachandpur main town till Khengjang and other places.
The bandh was total with all shops and business establishments downing their shutters till 3pm and schools remained closed for the day.
Despite the tense situation prevailing in Churachandpur, the bandh passed off peacefully and there was no report of any unwanted incident during the bandh.
Meanwhile, DGP P Doungel took stock of the situation in Churachandpur and held meetings with student and CSO leaders like YPA, ZSF, SSPP, KSO, HAS and KKL besides others and solicited opinions from the leaders on how to defuse the tense situation prevailing in Churachandpur.
On the other hand, Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip also held talks with influential leaders urging them to give time to public leaders for arriving at a solution and asked protestors to clear the roadblocks and call off the bandh.
He also assured of holding discussion with forest officials for placing grievances of tribal people.
One main factor in ensuring calling off of the bandh has been the efforts of Young Paite Association (YPA) and leaders of its allied organisations in making an appeal to the public by stating that their grievances have been heard by Central leaders and steps will be initiated to re dress their grievances.
After the lightning bandh was called off, traffic movement resumed by 3.30 pm while shops and other business activities were back on track.
Meanwhile, SP Churachandpur Karthik Malladi informed that the situation is improving and the two people arrested by police commando have been released.
On the number of police personnel injured in the Friday night's clashes, Karthik Malladi said that every police personnel on duty got injured and he too was hit by a stone but that was part of the duty.
He also said that at least 25 protestors got injured but the injuries are of minor nature.
The police officer further said that he will continue to talk with CSOs so that there is no gap in the communication.
On the allegation that police used live rounds, he said that stun grenade fire sounds like a gun and that may be the reason why some people assumed police were firing live bullets, which is not true.
Another source informed that the range forest office at Tuibuong bazar was burnt down by miscreants on Friday night.
While police were trying to control the protestors in other areas of Churachandpur town with shelling of tear gas, the Range Forest Office at Tuibuang market was set ablaze by irate mob on Friday midnight.
It happened while thousands of people were on the streets from 9.30 pm to 10 pm erecting barriers, road blocks and clanging the power poles.
This provoked the assemblage Of more and more people and by 11pm the number of people swelled to such an extent that even the security forces deployed were in suspicion that the mob will resort to some unwanted activities.
As expected, the mob set ablaze the forest office at around midnight amid tear gas shelling.
The agitated mob then moved towards Ccpur police station while some headed to the extreme north side taking the Tiddim road and put up road blocks at various points.
Another group of mob blocked the roads at Kaprang, K Salbung and many other places along the Tiddim road in their bid to prevent reinforcement from Imphal.
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