Massive street protests on Tuesday forced Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s to alter his road travel tour in Thoubal district.
Singh used a chopper to bypass the blockades at various places along the stretch of Imphal-Moreh section of NH-102 to reach Wangjing from Thoubal district headquarters where he inaugurated a Block Development Office (BDO) there.
The chief minister was heading to Thoubal district headquarters which is around 25 km from Imphal to take part in the inauguration of newly constructed Wangjing BDO.
However, due to the widespread blockades by supporters of the five-day total shutdown and boycott calls given by various CSOs and local women bodies, the chief minister had to cancel his travel by road.
Despite the deployment of a large number of police and security forces, the road blockade could not be cleared.
This prompted the chief minister to take a helicopter ride. He landed at the Khongjom AR camp by helicopter instead of using NH-102.
The chief minister reached the event venue at 3pm, an hour delay from his original schedule.
Before his arrival, a large number of protesters surrounded the site and tried to storm it. Security forces rained tear gas, mock bombs and bullets in their bid to take control of the situation.
A protester – Elangbam Nandabir (Bhai) (37) from Heirok Part-2 was hit in the stomach by a bullet allegedly fired by the security forces.
Locals took him to Thoubal district hospital from where he was shifted to a hospital in Imphal due to his serious condition. He is stated to be in critical condition.
Amid the sound of bullets, tear gas, and mock bombs, Singh formally inaugurated the BD office and handed it over to the public.
The chief minister faced stiff opposition from the public as the inauguration programme was organized amid the five-day total shutdown call given in protest against recent RPG attack that killed two kids at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district and death of three protesters in firing by CRPF on April 17.
The chief minister, in his address on the occasion, expressed his surprise over the massive protest he faced in the valley while asserting that he faced no hurdle in travelling to hill districts.
“I recently visited many hill districts and there was no opposition to my visit there. But, I am surprised by the protest in Thoubal district against my visit,” he said.
Any differences can be sorted out by sitting together. All solutions come after talks between the parties involved, he added.
Singh recalled the recent tragic incident at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district, as the most heart-wrenching incident.
He said that the government had already met the joint action committee of the victims twice along with home minister Govindas Konthoujam and assured the JAC that their demands would be fulfilled.
“On top of that, the government is also considering arranging suitable jobs in the state government for the parents of the victims,” he said.
He asserted that the terms set by the government were not a bargain. They were a positive gesture from the government’s side in the hope that the parents, who are staying separately, could be soothed a little, he said.
Expressing strong resentment over the ongoing five-day total shutdown called by a group of the JAC, the chief minister said that such unwarranted and senseless activities create confusion among the general public, and sometimes the government felt sorry for such a situation.
The inauguration function was also attended by some MLAs from the ruling parties, state BJP president A Sarda Devi apart from government officials like Thoubal DC among others.
Kukis and Nagas clash over shutdown call
Protesters from two tribal communities clashed on the borders of Senapati and its adjacent Kangpokpi districts of Manipur on Tuesday over a shutdown called by a civil society organisation, leading to tension in the area, officials said.
Local police attempting to clear a roadblock set up by Naga volunteers to enforce a three-day shutdown by the United Naga Council to protest the April 18 killing of two persons in Ukhrul district sparked the clash, they said.
An official said the situation turned tense after Changoubung Kuki villagers became involved, leading to stone pelting between the two sides.
“A few rounds were fired during the commotion. However, it is not clear who did it,” the official said.
The three-day shutdown called by UNC paralysed normal life in all Naga-inhabited areas of the state, including Ukhrul, Kamjong, Senapati, Noney and Tamenglong.
The shutdown began at midnight on April 20.