GUWAHATI: Manipur’s Kangpokpi district SP and several policemen and civilians sustained injuries in the first violent confrontation of the new year in the troubled state, when an agitated Kuki-Zo mob clashed with police while attacking the SP’s office on Friday evening.
The agitators hurled stones and other projectiles towards the SP’s office in an outrage over the deployment of central forces in Saibol village in the district. Police vehicles within the compound of the SP’s office were also vandalised.
The mob attacked the office of SP Manoj Prabhakar, who has reportedly been injured in stone pelting, citing his inability to withdraw central forces from Saibol village bordering Imphal East district. Police said Prabhkar is fine after receiving treatment.
Kuki-Zo organisations have been demonstrating against the alleged baton charge on women by security forces on Dec 31 in Saibol village. The Committee on Tribal Unity has been protesting against the deployment of central forces at Saibol village by calling a 12-hour shutdown in the district.
Manipur Police in a statement said a rally organized by CoTU became violent on their demand to withdraw central forces at Saibol village. “The violent protestors attacked the office of the SP (Kangpokpi) by pelting stones and petrol bombs. Security forces used force to disperse the mob and brought the situation under control,” it added.
