Manipur burns again; curfew in 3 dists, BJP offices set ablaze, babies suffer due to heavy tear gas shelling

Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights in a notice to the authorities, has urged the security forces not to use tear gas shells, rubber bullets, or resort to lathi

Screegrab of BJP office burnt down in Khongjom

Heavy tear gas shelling and protests went on till late last night as Manipur continues to simmer one more time. Total curfew has been clamped in Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts following widespread protests and violence.

Violence erupted after protestors, mostly students, clashed with police. At one point of time when the situation spiralled out of control, the forces resorted to tear gas shelling, firing rubber bullets and baton charge. Several of these young protestors were injured, some seriously.

The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights in a notice urged the security forces not to use, tear gas shells and rubber bullets, or resort to lathi charge arbitrarily and abruptly against children. The notice further states that the strategy for controlling young students and child protestors must be different from adult protestors.

Massive protests erupted in Imphal, Thoubal and Bishnupur as thousands took to the streets demanding justice for the two students who were found dead. Protests began after pictures of the two students dead went viral.
Two offices of ruling party BJP in Thoubal District were vandalised and set ablaze. As per sources, the BJP office at Khongjom under Thoubal District was set ablaze by a large number of protestors. Later, another BJP office under Wangjing Tentha Assembly Constituency of Thoubal District was also reportedly vandalized and some of the furniture inside was set ablaze.

But the worst affected has been children, some as young as three months old. Reports from the ground suggest that these babies and children are suffering because of the tear gas shelling near homes leading to massive air and noise pollution. Children are facing difficulty in breathing among other issues.

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