Churachandpur, neighbouring areas continues to be tense, CM Biren Singh remains mum

Night curfew has been clamped, Section 144 continues to be in place and the internet ban continues for the second day today in Churachandpur

Situation continues to be tense in Churachandpur. Night curfew has been clamped, Section 144 continues to be in place and the internet ban continues for the second day today to keep the situation under control. At least a dozen people have been injured in the protests and clashes with security personnel till late last night.

While Churachandpur continued to burn for two days and nights, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh maintained pin-drop-silence.

On Thursday night the first violent flare up took place at New Lamka in Churanchandpur when angry mob vandalised and set ablaze the event venue at Sadbhavna Mandap where the CM was to address a public gathering. The mob also ransacked the gym that the CM was to inaugurate.

The CM on Friday tried to down play the incident as an internal matter of the MLA of that constituency. After this comment, the CM has been mum despite the fact that violence was spreading, people were expressing their anger about certain steps taken by his government and people of his state were getting hurt in the violence.

Yesterday violent protests, clashes with security personnel was seen not just in Churachandpur but by evening similar protests, road blocks and clashes with security forces were seen in different parts of the district.

Protestors went on a rampage setting fire to a forest office at Tubuong, pelting stones on security personnel. The streets in Churachandpur turned into a war zone with clashes between security personnel and protestors being reported from different areas. People in social media shared clips of the security forces firing tear gas shells, protestors pelting stones and even using catapult to attack the security forces. Many commented in their Twitter posts: “This is not Khartoum, Sudan, this is Manipur, India!”, “This is not Israel vs Palestine. This happened during the day in #Churachandpur #Manipur”.

This is not Israel vs. Palestine.

This happened during the day in #Churachandpur #Manipur pic.twitter.com/yvRTaJ5Eic

— Брат (@B7801011010) April 28, 2023

This is not Khartoum, Sudan, this is Manipur, India! pic.twitter.com/Gy98LtWwn8

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) April 28, 2023

Protests spread to new areas- Tubuong, Kaprang, Kangvai, Koite as well as Khenjang. The epicentre of the protest was Churachandpur town.

In order to prevent any untoward incident, the district administration has clamped night curfew in Churachandpur district from 5PM to 5AM until further notice. Section 144 continues to be in place prohibiting the assembly of five or more people and internet remains shut for the second day today.
While the protest had more or less subsided by Friday afternoon, the decision of the authorities not to release two protesters and subsequent shifting of the duo to Moirang triggered fresh round of protests and violence in the evening.

KSO and ZSF representatives met the Deputy Commissioner to secure the release of the protesters.

Churachandpur MLA LM KHaute was entrusted the responsibility to secure the release of the protesters.
As per eyewitness accounts, at one point of time, security personnel had run out of tear gas shells and had to resort to firing in the air to push back the advancing mob.

Pelting of stones and arson continued late through the night leading to injuries on both side — civilians as well as the police personnel. Till last night, at least a dozen people were injured, a few seriously. No casualties have been reported yet.

The impact of the situation in Churachandpur was also felt in Kangpokpi district as a number of youths resorted to a sudden bandh along the National Highway-2, the main lifeline of the state, since 9:30 pm on Friday evening.

The protesting tribal youths resorted to the impromptu bandh in solidarity with the protesting tribal people of Churachandpur. They blocked the Highway at Gamgiphai, and Lower Khengjang, the bordering villages of Kangpokpi district with Imphal West. The blockade was cleared this morning.

However, now the situation in Kangpokpi is under control and no protests took place till 1PM today.

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