GUWAHATI: Protestors clashed with security personnel in Manipur’s Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district, leaving some people, including the superintendent of police, injured on Friday evening.
The SP, Manoj Prabhakar, sustained injuries on the forehead. Official sources said he received the necessary medical assistance and was fine.
A statement issued by Manipur’s directorate of information and public relations said that the protests were led by Kuki organisation CoTU to press their demand for the withdrawel of Central Security Forces deployed at Saibol village.
"Security Forces retaliated against the mob and resorted to use of adequate force to disperse the mob and the situation was brought under control. In this incident, Shri Manoj Prabhakar, SP Kangpokpi District, was injured and some vehicles also were damaged. The SP Kangpokpi has received necessary medical treatment and is fine now and presently leading the joint security forces in tackling the situation," the statement read.
"Huge contingents of security forces have been deployed to tackle the situation. The situation is now under control and being closely monitored,” the statement added.
Trouble was brewing in Kangpokpi for the past few days after central armed police forces took control of some “community bunkers” of the Kukis at Saibol area bordering the Imphal East district.
The locals were angry that the district police failed to remove the central forces from the area.
On Friday evening, the protestors marched up to the SP’s office and attempted to seal it. The violence broke out when there was resistance. Some vehicles at the SP’s office were reportedly damaged.
In viral social media videos, the protestors, some of them armed and wearing battle fatigues, were seen marching.
Last week, security forces had conducted operations at the village and its peripheral areas following gunfights between groups that led to injuries to four people including a police personnel.
Following the operations, Kangpokpi district based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) imposed indefinite economic blockade along the critical transportation route of National Highway 2 (Imphal to Dimapur).
COTU also observed a 24-hour shutdown in the district on Friday.
On the December 31 incident at Saibol, Manipur police had said that security forces resorted to firing of tear gas shells after a group of women attempted to block the movement of a combined team of state and central forces.
The latest attack comes days after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh claimed that there has been "relative peace" in the state for the past three-four months.
Apologising for the ethnic conflict which claimed over 250 lives and rendered thousands homeless, Singh on December 31 expressed hope that noermalcy would return to the violence torn state in the coming months.
The state and central governments have come under fire for failing to resolve the issue even after almost two years since the beginning of the ethnic violence.
(With inputs from PTI)
