Imphal: Manipur police and central security forces resorted to firing tear gas and smoke bombs on Tuesday to disperse crowds after student protests turned violent.
The students have presented a five-point charter of demands to the government, including handing over the Unified High Command to the State Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, and resolving the 16-month-old crisis affecting the state, particularly the student community.
On Monday afternoon, a few student leaders met with Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, giving a 24-hour ultimatum to fulfill their demands. These leaders were stationed on the first floor of the Imphal Market Centre.
A heavy deployment of police and central security forces was present in the heart of the city from early morning to prevent any disturbances. As the deadline passed around 2 PM, the protest intensified, leading to security forces firing dozens of tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the crowds. Both sides held their ground, exchanging verbal altercations.
A similar protest occurred in Kakwa, Imphal West, along the Imphal-Moreh road, where a large number of students and women marched from Manipur University towards Imphal. However, security forces managed to control the situation with relative ease.
Later in the evening, eleven representatives from various colleges were allowed to meet the Governor to discuss the ongoing crisis. After the meeting, student leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the Governor’s assurances and vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met.
During the clashes, nearly two dozen students and others were reportedly injured and admitted to RIMS hospital.
Meanwhile, Governor Acharya appealed to all sections of society, including student organizations, to work together to restore peace and foster growth and development in the state. He emphasized that peace and cooperation are essential for societal progress, stating that Manipur has long been vital to India’s overall development. He noted that recent turmoil has disrupted the efforts of both the Central and State governments to restore normalcy.
The Governor expressed concern over the recent surge in violent incidents, stating that violence is not a solution. He called on everyone to contribute to finding peaceful resolutions. Governor Acharya is expected to depart Imphal on an early morning Indigo flight to Guwahati on Wednesday.
