Over 60 hurt as students protest teens' murder
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 26 2023: At least 58 students who rallied at different places in Imphal on Tuesday demanding justice to two missing students were hurt and hospitalised as police and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells and stun bombs to disperse the students while three protestors suffered barrel gun wounds in police/RAF action at Singjamei.

A police officer also got hurt in the clash between police/RAF and protestors at Singjamei.

Large number of students of schools, colleges and universities came out from their respective campuses and marched towards CM Bungalow demanding justice to two missing students but presumably dead namely Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Luwangbi Linthoingambi.

However, none of the students could reach CM bungalow as large numbers of police and RAF personnel put up roadblocks at several places.

After brief tussles, police and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells and stun bombs to disperse the students.

At least 58 students were hurt in the police/RAF action and all of them were rushed to different hospitals for treatment.

Of the total injured students, 20 were rushed to RIMS, 35 to Raj Medicity, one to JNIMS and two at Asian hospital.

Prior to police/RAF action, large number of students of Ibotonsana Girls higher secondary school, Uripok formed human chain along the Uripok-Kangchup (UK) road and rallied towards CM bungalow condemning the killing of the students and demanding justice to Hemanjit and Linthoingambi.

Even though police tried to stop the rally at Samumakhong in the heart of Imphal city, students breached the barricade and continued to march towards the CM's bungalow.

For the second time, the students broke through the police barricade near the western gate of Kangla and rallied towards CM bungalow.

However, police fired tear gas shells to disperse the students.

At the same time, students of CC higher secondary school, TG Higher secondary school and GP women's college came out from their campuses and marched towards the CM's bungalow.

However, police and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse students at Sanjenthong and at traffic island in front of Raj Bhavan.

Later, students of CC higher secondary school along with students of Ananda Singh higher secondary school rallied towards Sanjenthong again but police and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse them.

Several students got hurt in the police/RAF action near Sanjenthong.

On the other side, students of TG higher secondary school and GP women's college tried to march towards the CM's bungalow and even managed to get past the police barricade put up at traffic island in front of Raj Bhavan.

However, police and RAF personnel deployed in the area fired tear gas shells to disperse them resulting in injuries among the students.

Almost at the same time, students of Johnstone higher secondary school also came out from the school campus to march towards CM bungalow but police forced them to move towards BT Park.

After briefly squatting on the road on the western side of the school campus, the students tried to march towards CM bungalow but police/RAF fired tear gas shells to disperse them and several students were hurt in the police/RAF action.

At the same time, students of DM University came out from the campus and rallied towards CM bungalow only for the police/RAF teams to fire tear gas shells to halt the march.

Several students were hurt in the police RAF action.

Around the same time, students of Imphal College trooped out of the college campus and marched towards the CM's bungalow.

However, police stopped the students at Keishamthong Hodam Leirak area and disperse them by firing tear gas shells.

Some students got hurt in the police action.

Meanwhile, students of Manipur University also came out of the campus and marched towards CM bungalow but were stopped by the police at Singjamei bazar through firing tear gas shells.

Later in the afternoon, students of TG higher secondary school convened a meet at the school and resolved not to stop going to school and wear black badge as protest.

The students also condemned firing of tear gas shells and smoke bombs towards students.

Later in the day, large numbers of people came out to the streets at Singjamei demanding justice to Hemanjit and Linthoingambi.

However, police/RAF fired tear gas shells and barrel guns to disperse the protestors thereby leading to intense clash between the two sides as the protestors pelted stones.

While three protestors suffered barrel gun wounds in the clash, one police officer got hurt after being hit by stone pelted by protestors.

Those suffered barrel gun wounds are identified as Saikhom Kunal, 39 of Singjamei Sapam Leikai, S San-athoi, 30 of Khongman zone-1 and Moirangthem Munindro, 22 of Khurai Thangjam Leikai.

Kunal and Sanathoi were rushed to Kripadashini Advanced Hospital while Munindro was rushed to JNIMS hospital for treatment.

DSP (commando) Imphal West Md Riyaz Khan also got hurt in the clash as he was hit by stone pelted by protestors.

He underwent treatment at Shija hospital.

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