Office torched, night curfew imposed
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 29 2023: The situation in violence-hit Churachandpur in Manipur remained "grim", with unidentified miscreants setting on fire a government building, even as night curfew was imposed in the district from Saturday, officials said.

A group of people torched the office building of the Range Forest Officer in Tui bong area around midnight, and several fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames, they said.

Public properties worth lakhs of rupees were reportedly destroyed and official documents burnt in the blaze, a police officer said.

Night curfew has been imposed in the district from 5 pm to 5 am from Saturday until further orders.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC and suspension of mobile internet services will also continue in the district, the officials said.

Invoking sub-section 2 of Section 144 of CrPC, district magistrate Sharath Chandra Arroju prohibited movement of any person outside their respective residences along with ban on assembly of five or more people which is likely to turn unlawful.

Carrying sticks, stones, firearms, weapons or object of any description, which can be used as offensive weapons during daytime between 5 am to 5 pm, has also been banned with immediate effect in Churachandpur district, particularly in town areas, the DM notified on Friday, adding that the decision was taken based on report by SP Churachandpur that there is worsening law and order situation and further likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and properties.

"The situation is still grim.

Security has been bolstered at all major junctions and large localities of the town to prevent any untoward incident," another police officer said.

Locals claimed that some people were killed and many injured in the police action, hours after a bandh called by Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) concluded at 4 pm.

However, there was no official confirmation on casualties or injuries to people.

The eight-hour shutdown, called to protest against the eviction of Kuki villagers from protected forests, paralysed normal life in the tribal-dominated southern Manipur district.

Earlier on Friday, clashes broke out between protestors and police at Sadbhavna Mandap in New Lamka, the venue where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to address a public meeting.

Biren deferred the visit following protests and the call for bandh.

CM asserted that those involved in the subversive activities destroying properties by setting afire would be dealt with according to the law of the land.

CM Biren, who also holds the home portfolio, said, "Those who are involved in subversive activities that are anti-development will not be spared; that is the BJP government's commitment, my commitments" .

(with inputs from PTI) .

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