Churachandpur: At least 10 protestors were reportedly injured in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Wednesday during a massive protest held against the alleged arrest of Dr Mark Thangmang Haokip, president of International Human Rights Association, by Manipur Police in New Delhi.
The incident took place when the proposed peaceful protest against arrest of the human rights activist turned ugly as the police did not permit the protest due to lack of permission.
Led by SP Shrivanand Surve, the police fired tear gas and smoke bombs in order to disperse the protesters gathered at KIC Complex at Tuibong in Churachandpur, leading to the injuries.
At least three police personnel were also injured in retaliatory stone pelting by the protesters, the police said.
The situation turned from bad to worse in the afternoon with the protesters, armed with stones and sticks, blocking the main Tiddim Road by using boulders, logs, burning of tyres and traffic barricades, leading to a complete ban on movement of vehicles in the hill district, sources said.
The protesters, sporting placards and banners asking the government to release Dr Haokip and chanting ‘we want justice’, headed to the Mini Secretariat to meet the DC.
According to Mimin Lungdim, one of the protesters, they tried a peaceful way to make their demand known but the government used a divisive tactic and held them back. We are not happy and we will not stop until Dr Haokip is set free and justice prevailed, Lungdim said.
Another protestor said the arrest of Dr Haokip is a human rights violation, so we want a peaceful solution. We ask our Zomis and Kukis brothers to help us so that justice will be given to Dr Haokip and he will be set free, he added.
Later, MLA Paulianlal Haokip met the protestors and assured them of a meeting with the district administration. Following the assurance, the situation was controlled and traffic at Tiddim Road reopened.
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