Fresh violence in Manipur as Meitei women, armed forces clash; 17 injured

 

As many as 17 people were injured after clashes erupted between armed forces and the Meitei community protesters in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Thursday. 

The incident prompted the authorities of Imphal East and Imphal West to withdraw curfew relaxations announced earlier. The authorities imposed the restrictions during the day as a precautionary measure. 

Armed forces and the Manipur Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters in the Kangvai and Phougakchao areas of the district. 

According to the details, the incident happened while the Meitei women were attempting to cross a barricaded zone in the district. They were halted by the Assam Rifles and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), thus leading to stone-pelting and clashes between the community and armed forces

Meanwhile, a large police force was deployed in the area to prevent any further incidents of violence. 

Tension has been brewing since morning in Bishnupur district as thousands of locals came out on the streets to block the movement of security forces.

Hours before the clashes, a planned mass burial of Kuki-Zomi people killed in Manipur's ethnic violence was stalled after the state's High Court on Thursday morning ordered status quo to be maintained at the proposed burial site in Churachandpur district.