Nagaland CM asks for intervention from Centre
Newmai News Network
Imphal | December 18
The Situation in Manipur turned extremely volatile today after 22 vehicles bound for Ukhrul and Kamjong districts were burnt down by a large mob at Khurai area of Imphal East district. Following the incident, the district administration of Imphal East district promulgated indefinite curfew in the whole of the district since 4:00pm today.
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22 vehicles, including passenger carriers, were torched by counter-blockade supporters in Imphal East’ Khurai area along Imphal-Ukhrul road.
The arson attack started from morning. Cops resorted to firing tear gas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse the counter-blockade supporters. 22 Ukhrul-bound vehicles were completely charred. Many passengers were reported injured by stones pelted by the counter blockade supporters. Only two passenger vehicles including a bus managed to slip away.
State security personnel were escorting the Ukhrul and Kamjong bound vehicles, but the mob managed to overpower the security personnel. Additional security forces rushed to the area but it was too late.
Meanwhile, hundreds of passengers are now stranded. The stranded passengers were given accommodation in a community hall before they were shifted to the 2nd Manipur Rifles battalion.
In another incident, a skirmish was reported from Khurai Puthiba Nandeibam Leikai where a large number of agitators attempted to prevent about 60 Ukhrul district-bound passenger vehicles.
The packed vehicles escorted by cops were stopped by the locals, which led to a skirmish between the agitators and police. However, the police managed to control the crowd and the vehicles managed to leave for Ukhrul.
It was further reported that agitating womenfolk of Sagolband Bijoygovinda area in Imphal West blocked movement of goods vehicles. The large number of protesters pulled down essential items from Keithelmanbi-bound Tata Magic vans.
The womenfolk from the Sagolband Bijoygovinda Mamang Leikai Meira Paibi bodies threw away the goods on the streets at Bijoygovinda.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang has written to his Manipur counterpart seeking urgent and immediate intervention to ensure that the lives and property of Nagas in the Imphal valley are secured.
He also wrote to the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh informing him of the situation in Manipur and urged urgent intervention from the Government of India.
The CM informed that the Nagaland Government, on its part, is taking all steps to “safeguard the safety of the Meiteis residing in or travelling through Nagaland.”
