Panthou Masaikol turns into war field, indefinite curfew clamped

Imphal, May 2: The ritual complex of Panthou Masaikol located at Wangkhei Hijam Leirak in Imphal East was turned to a war field today morning after a large number of people vandalise and burn vehicles and other infrastructures inside the complex. At least 3 followers of Panthou Masiakol including a minor girl sustain injury in the mob action. OC of Imphal East, SK Singh also sustained injury after a stone hit at his chest.

Following the incident, district administration has clamped indefinite curfew under section 144 of CrPC at Wangkhei Wangkheimayum Leirak, Wangkhei Pukhrambam Leirak, Wangkhei Ayangpali road and Wangkhei Imphal Yairipok road from around 11 am. today morning.

According to report, members of the Child Welfare Committee Imphal East, Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, District Child Protection Unit, Social Welfare Dept and Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights along with parents and guardians of the children kept inside the Panthou Masiakol complex came today morning at around 7 am to collect the children. The committee of the Panthou Masiakol reportedly took around 30 minutes in handing over the children to the CWC, resulting a brief confrontation between the local volunteers associating the government officials and the committee members of Panthou. Following that, the locals of the area turn violent and gathered in large number and started vandalising properties inside the complex.

“16 children out of 33 were rescued and handed over to their parents”, said a member of the Child Welfare Committee.

Soon after the government committee members left the place the locals started pelting stones inside the complex, burning vehicles and other infrastructures inside the complex. Around 13 vehicles including cars, auto-rickshaw were set ablaze and around 10 vehicles including 8 two wheelers were destroyed. The main auditorium of the Panthou Masaikol complex was also set ablaze by the mob.

Fire tender rushing to the spot were prevented at first by the locals of the area but later forced inside along with additional team of Imphal East Police. The Fire service extinguished the fire from causing more damage inside the complex.

Even after the intervention of the police the local continued to remain hostile prompting the police to fire rounds of gun shot in the air. The police also fired several tear gas shells to disperse the mob.