Manipur news: 8 injured after police hurl smoke bombs, tear gas on protesters marching towards Raj Bhawan
At least eight people sustained injuries in Imphal on Sunday after security forces hurled smoke bombs and tear gas to disperse protesters who were on their way to the Raj Bhavan in the afternoon over a state directive. The alleged state directive asked to remove 'Manipur' from a Manipur State Transport (MST) bus operating at the Shirui Festival in Ukhrul, reported the Hindustan Times.
As per the report, the protesters had gathered at Khwairamband Keithel after they received a call by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of Meitei groups, to stage a mass protest at the Raj Bhawan.
However, they were stopped by the security personnel 500 metre into there march near Kangla Western Gate, who fired rounds of smoke bombs to disperse them. At least eight were injured in the incident. The injured, including women, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The protesters planned to stage the agitation demanding an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla over his refusal to apologise for the removal of the state's name from the government bus.
The COCOMI has announced that it will stage a statewide protest. It has also asked for the resignation of the chief secretary, the director general of police (DGP), and the security advisor.
A seven-member delegation of COCOMI will meet Union Home Ministry officials in New Delhi on Tuesday and discuss the current situation in the state, particularly the row over hiding the state's name on a government bus in Gwaltabi, its convenor Khuraijam Athouba said.
He said the agenda for the meeting includes the demand for a public apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla over the Gwaltabi incident, and the removal of the chief secretary, DGP, and security advisor.
"The central government and COCOMI have been communicating. The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended an invitation to COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) for an exclusive meeting. The meeting is scheduled on Tuesday," Athouba said.
"Our aim is to push forward the pending political and security processes regarding the prolonged crisis. However, the agenda has now expanded in light of the recent Gwaltabi incident and the resulting public unrest," he added.
Reiterating the demand for resignation or transfer of the top three officers, he claimed that they are "viewed as incompetent and responsible for making anti-state decisions which have added to the deteriorating situation".
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