COCOMI agitation turns violent, scuffle with forces near Raj Bhavan leaves 5 injured
Imphal: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity's (COCOMI) protest, demanding an apology from governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for the May 20 incident in Gwaltabi, turned violent on Sunday as scuffle broke out between protesters and security forces.
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Responding to the call by COCOMI, hundreds of protesters gathered at Khwairamband Bazaar near the Raj Bhavan to take part in the mass agitation but they were stopped by security forces.
As the scuffle ensued, security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters in front of Kangla Gate, around 150 metres from the Raj Bhavan gate, as a result of which many people were injured. Five injured protesters have been admitted to RIMS Hospital, a hospital official said.
"The governor continues to disregard the sentiments of the people by his silence," a protester said.
On May 20, a Manipur state transport bus with journalists on board, en route to the Shirui festival in Ukhrul district, was reportedly issued a directive to remove 'Manipur' from its windshield near Gwaltabi check-post.
The govt has formed a two-member inquiry committee and said it will 'examine facts and circumstances involving security personnel and Manipur state road transport Bus...',
an order issued by the home department said.
The unrest comes after the expiry of a 48-hour deadline set by COCOMI for the governor to issue a public apology.
COCOMI has decided to meet MHAin New Delhi on Tuesday to push forward the pending political and security processes regarding the prolonged Manipur crisis.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the use of mock bombs and tear gas shells on non-violent protestors, COCOMI said, "The deployment of such aggressive crowd control measures against unarmed civilians, many of whom were mothers and elderly women, is unbecoming of a democratic and sensitive administration."
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