MANIPUR: Thousands of protesters on Wednesday marched towards barricades placed by the Indian security forces at the buffer zone between Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts in Manipur state of India.
In response, the security forces resorted to firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Over 50 people were wounded in the clashes and were shifted to hospital as situation remained tense in Indian Manipur state.
Protesters gathered at Phougakchao Ikhai in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on 6 September to push back the military barricade placed at Phougakchao Ikhai. They were trying to reach deserted houses in Torbung under the Bishnupur district, which is a few kilometres away from Churachandpur.
The protesters came out, defying curfew in the Meitei-majority valley of Manipur after a call by the Coordination Committee, the umbrella body of Meitei civil society groups.
The COCOMI said they would march to the Chin-Kuki-majority Churachandpur despite the appeal from the government not to do so as it may further aggravate the crisis in the state.
COCOMI coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba said that we want the barricades to be removed because beyond it there are the lands of the Meiteis. We want to resettle there and get our land back.
People started reaching the place on Wednesday morning. A large contingent of security forces was deployed in the area to keep the law and order situation under control. Along with this, a new curfew was imposed in 5 valley districts as a preventive measure. However, protesters defied it and thronged Phougakchao Ikhai.
#GROUND #REPORT
This is what is happening right now at Phougakchao Ikhai. Under the leadership of COCOMI more than 1 lakh people are trying to move forward till Torbung Meitei village. They are blocked by security forces. Meiteis don't have the right to go anywhere in Manipur ? pic.twitter.com/GGluHyMsRR— Narendra Khuman (@NorendroKh15071) September 6, 2023
Security Tightened in Manipur
Security has been tightened in Churachandpur, 35 kilometer from the Meitei-majority Bishnupur district. The barricades have been put between these two districts in an area that the security forces term a temporary “buffer zone”.
Netizens said they could not go home in Torbung due to the barricades at Phougakchao Ikhai. They said they fled from the area when ethnic violence started on May 3, earlier this year.
