Imphal: A mob numbering hundreds tried to storm the personal residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh at Heingang in Imphal West district on Thursday evening even as the top officials of state police department including central armed police forces held a meeting over the unfolding violence during the last few days.
Thousands of people, especially students, have been protesting against the alleged kidnaped and murdered of two young Meitei couples – Phijam Hemjit, 20, and Hijam Linthoinganbi, 17, whose bodies were found on Tuesday after they had gone missing since early July.
Protesters gathered in huge numbers at Heingang area to march toward the Chief Minister’s ancestral house on Thursday evening. However, they were stopped by security personnel, leading to clashes between sides. Meanwhile, Manipur police denied any such incident and said there were no such mobs in the area. Adequate security is already in place, a statement from police department said.
A police said a meeting of senior officers of CAPF was held at police headquarters to discuss the present law and order situation in the state. The officers were apprised of the unfortunate injuries as well as security personnel. The forces also agreed to use minimum force in dealing with the public, especially students.
The meeting also came at a time when a section of people including legislators slammed the CAPF and state police for mishandling the situation.
The Manipur police also appealed to the student community to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies in maintaining peace and bringing normalcy back early. However, it warned that any miscreant taking advantage of the current situation will be firmly dealt with.
Meanwhile, BJP legislator Rajkumar Imo Singh strongly condemned the ‘barbarism act’ by the armed forces, saying they should have been more humane in dealing with such a delicate situation.
Demanding swift action and punishment against those personnel involved, the BJP legislator also appealed to his fellow citizens to not indulge in any form of violence.
“The more we are violent and agitating against each other, the more they will be laughing at us, their cause will be a success to make us hate each other. Let us all Stand Together for Manipur,” Imo said in his X handle.
