People escape as smoke and flames billow out of vehicles which were set on fire set on fire during demonstrations near the Manipur-Assam border on Friday night, in Imphal on Saturday
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: A 22-year-old student belonging to the Meitei community died in the conflict-torn Jiribam district of Manipur after a police officer allegedly opened fire during a protest on Sunday night.
The incident happened amid a speculation over fate of CM N. Biren Singh following withdrawal of support by National People's Party (NPP) to the government on Sunday.
According to Meitei students' organisations, the victim, Khundrakpam Athouba Ningthouja, died and another sustained bullet injury after Nectar Sanjenbam, the senior SP (combat) opened fire during the protest near Jiribam police station. Sanjenbam is a retired Colonel and was appointed by the Manipur government as SSP. Hundreds had gathered to protest the killing of Meitei women and children allegedly by Kuki insurgents. Six Meitei persons, three women and three children belonging to a displaced family, had gone missing during a gunfight on November 11 in Jiribam. Their bodies were later recovered in a river.
As the students lodged a complaint against the SSP, the Manipur Governor constituted a committee on Monday to inquire into the incident. Sources said the police officer opened fire after the protesters attacked some government offices and public properties.
The situation remained volatile in Jiribam with protesters targeting leaders of political parties as well as government buildings. An irate mob barged into the offices of ruling BJP and Opposition Congress and vandalised them on Sunday night. As the protesters continued to target leaders of political parties, at least eight leaders of Jiribam mandal unit of BJP resigned citing "unwelcome and helpless situation."
Tense Valley
In the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley too, the situation remained tense despite a curfew and curb on the internet. A crowd of protesters barged into the campus of the office of Manipur Chief Electoral Officer in Imphal on Monday morning and reportedly locked it before the security forces intervened. Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to guard the residences of the Ministers, MLAs and important leaders to prevent further attack. Houses of at least 13 Ministers and MLAs were either set on fire or vandalised since the protest erupted on Saturday.
Kuldiep Singh, the Centre's security advisor held a meeting with CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh and Manipur Rajiv Singh on Monday and took stock of the situaiton and the security arranegments.
Biren meets NDA MLAS
Amid specucation over his political fate, CM Biren Singh on Monday evening convened a meeting of MLAs belonging to BJP and its allies, Naga People's Front (NPF) and JD (U), in view of the withdrawal of support by NPP on Sunday. BJP has 37 MLAs while NPF has five and JD (U) one. Biren, however, got a breather on Monday when NPF clarified that it would continue to support his goverment. NPP Chief and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangam, however, said that his party may consider to restore the support if Biren is replaced.
The meeting of the ruling MLAs took eight resolutions that included:
*Review of the imposition of AFSPA in areas under six police stations as per the order of the MHA on November 14.
*An operation against the Kuki militants responsible for the killing of six women and children in Jiribam within seven days
*Immediate handing over the cases related to killing of the six, and two women belonging to Hmar and Meitei community, respectively, on November 7 and 8 to the NIA
*Declare the Kuki-Zo organisations resposible for killing the six persons as unlawful organisations within seven days.
"If the resolutions are not implemented within the specified period, all the NDA legislators will decide the future course of action in consultation with the people of the state," the resolution stated.
The meeting also condemned the attacks on Ministers and MLAs by "certain persons" in the Valley and decided to take legal action.