IT News
Imphal, Sept 10:
Hours after the district administration imposed a curfew in response to potential threats to law and order in the state, a massive gathering of students and Meira Paibis converged at BT Road, Imphal, leading to violent clashes with police on Tuesday afternoon. The students had organized a protest rally, presenting a six-point demand to both the Governor and Chief Minister, with a 24-hour ultimatum for action. During this time, the students remained inside Khwairamband Ima Keithel, waiting for their demands to be addressed.
As the ultimatum ended at 2 p.m., a large contingent of students and Meira Paibis began marching towards the Governor’s bungalow. Their numbers swelled as they approached, creating a tense standoff when they were blocked by the police at the eastern end of Bir Tikendrajit Flyover on BT Road. Despite police efforts to control the crowd, the protesters pushed forward, escalating the confrontation.
With the situation spiraling out of control, the police resorted to firing tear gas and stun bombs to disperse the agitated crowd. Moren than 50 indviduals inluding students were injured, in the ensuing chaos and were rushed to RIMS Hospital for treatment, at the time of filing this report. Several others were also reportedly injured, though the exact number of casualties remains uncertain at this time.
The rally, which had initially been peaceful, turned violent as irate students began hurling stones at the police. The intense clash, marked by defiant protesters and heavy police response, continued until around 3:30 p.m. when authorities finally managed to regain control of the situation.
The sheer size of the gathering, with hundreds of students and Meira Paibis united in their demands, underscores the rising tensions in Imphal as public frustration grows over the government’s handling of the ongoing crisis in Manipur. The violent turn of events highlights the urgency of addressing the students’ demands, as well as the broader instability in the region.
