The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 19: Protestors fought pitched battles with police and paramilitary forces at several places, even as the state security apparatus stretched itself to foil the mass torch rally called for this evening by the 32 organisations spearheading the public agitation over the killing of Thangjam Manorama by Assam Rifles troops.

With the simultaneous eruption of torch rallyists from every direction this evening at around 8 pm, most trying to move towards the Imphal centre, violent confrontations occurred at several places, particularly the major road junctions of Kongba, Khurai, Wangkhei and Heingang in Imphal east, and Kwakeithel, Moirangkhom, Singjamei, Tera bazar, Wahengbam Leikai, Khoyathong and Chingmeirong in Imphal west.

To tackle the situation, the state government deployed a freshly arrived contingent of the CRPF’s special anti-riot unit, the Rapid Action Force, and also withdrew 200 IRB personnel from their posts in the outlying areas for deploying in the greater Imphal area.

One of the major flashpoints this evening was at Lamlong, where protestors in their thousands converged on Lamlong bazar from three different directions.

The beleaguered police and security personnel deployed at the Lamlong bazar area had a difficult time trying to disperse the protestors, as over a thousand, including women and youths, tried to storm the spot from the Tinsid Road side, in addition to around 500 coming from the Ayangpalli side, and another group zeroing in on the spot from the Imphal-Ukhrul road. The security personnel opened up with tear gas and rubber bullets in trying to the stop the rallyists, and stones and slingshots flew thick and fast as the protestors retaliated.

Other protestors coming along the Imphal-Ukhrul road were blocked by security personnel deployed near the Sajiwa jail. A pitched battle continued between protestors and security personnel at the spot till late in the night.

In the Heingang area, around 700 protestors attempted to break through police barricades near the Heingang police station, causing the police and IRB personnel to fire tear gas and lathi-charge the crowd.
The situation worsened after protestors regrouped and began pelting stones at the security personnel, who responded by firing rubber bullets and shooting in the air.

Police and security personnel also used tear gas and rubber ammunition to disperse torch rallyists at Pangei.

In police action at Wangkhei Ayangpalli Yanglen Leirak, one woman identified as Ahongbam Pramodini, 42, was hurt in the right leg by a tear gas shell.

At Sangakpham also, where another pitched battle was fought, at least one man was seriously injured by a rubber bullet during a confrontation between protestors marching towards Imphal and security personnel.
Clashes also took place on the Porompat road.

Rallyists heading towards Imphal from the Kongba side were dispersed by security forces at Kongba bridge.

Thousands of protestors converged on the Tiddim Road from the Kwakeithel Sagolband Tera road, Nganapithong road and Soibam Leikai road, but were dispersed by the heavy security team deployed there.

Confrontations also occurred at Tera bazar, Naoremthong junction, Wahengbam leikai junction, Khoyathong and Khongnang Ani Karak.

In the Sagolband-Tera area, in the course of the struggle between police and protestors coming from this side, two tear gas shells hit the office of the Huiyen Lanpao daily newspaper.

In the Singjamei area, several hundreds of torch rallyists coming from the direction of Singjamei super market and the Singjamei Chingamakha road were stopped by police and security personnel deployed at Chingamakhong with continuous firing of tear gas shells and rubber bullets. A Imphal west district police personnel was injured in the clash.

Likewise, women rallyists coming from the direction of Pishum Oinam Leikai and Elangbam Leikai were dispersed by security personnel deployed at the Keisamthong bridge.

Amidst the chaos, protestors blocked several main roads with trees, buring tyres and debris in an attempt to impede police movement.

On the other hand, around 200 womenfolk of the Langthabal area held the torch rally peacefully tonight, confining themselves only to the locality.

At least six persons were admitted to RIMS hospital this evening with injuries sustained due to rubber bullets. Another 11 were admitted to JN hospital. Of the latter, seven were hurt in the confrontation at the Wangkhei Kongba area, including two men and five women. At Sangakpham, three women and a police constable were injured.

In the meantime, an ambulance belonging to the Langol View Charitable Clinic engaged by Helping Line was damaged after it was stoned by protestors at Naoremthong Laishram Leikai this evening.

Moreh-- Torch rally was also held at the border town Moreh which was participated by around 400 women belonging to different communities.

The rally jointly organised by Kha Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup, Women Development Society, Muslim Women Development Association started from Moreh bazar and passes through Gate number 1, Gate number 2 and Nepali Basti before ending at the starting point.

Maklang -- Around 1000 women of 17 villages located in the stretch of Sangaithel to Salam in Imphal west district successfully organised a torch rally which began at 7 in the evening. The rally organised by Meira Paibi Welfare Association Kangleipak, MEPWAK, Maklang, an apex Meira Paibi organisation of the area also raised slogans against AFSPA and the Indian Army.

Earlier today, a mass protest rally was taken out by womenfolk from Khumbong bazar to Patsoi bazar, organised by the Imphal west Apunba Nupi Lup, Khumbong. Around 1000 women belonging to 23 different organisations participated.

The womenfolk shouted slogans denouncing the Indian Army and the Black Laws imposed in the state in front of the Patsoi police station.

Several hundred women of the Keirao area took out a rally till Bamon Kampu this afternoon, and joined the local meira paibis there in the sit-in protest being staged there at the gate of Thangjam Manorama’s residence.

A protest rally was also taken out by over 500 womenfolk at Mayang Imphal this afternoon.

At Moirang bazar, around 200 women participated in a protest demonstration from 2 pm this afternoon. Shops and businesses at Moirang bazar were also closed in solidarity.

At Saikul also, a large number of women, belonging to various communities participated in a protest at Saikul market from 11 am to 4 pm.

Around a hundred women staged a demonstration at Langthabal Kunja Awang Leikai next to the Indo-Burma road. A police team came by in the forenoon, and took down the banners and festoons put up at the site, and warned the participants to wind the protest up by 1 pm, a participant said. The demonstration however went on till 3:30 pm.

Protestors set fire to effigies of the chief minister, O Ibobi, information minister W Leima and AICC president Sonia Gandhi at Langthabal Phuramakhong Nambul Mapal this evening.

Members of the Nongpok Panthoibi Womens Association staged a sit-in protest from 10 am to 1 pm at Old Checkon bazar.

Around 800 women, belonging to various communities, participated in a massive demonstration at New Checkon Hatta Road.

At Heingang Laiharoubam Lampak, around 400 women participated in a protest demonstration. They also adopted a resolution condemning the Manorama killing, and pledging to continue the protests till justice is served.
 

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