Why is Manipur burning?
Manipur's Churachandpur district has been on the boil since April 27 when an irate mob set the venue on fire where Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to attend an event
Soon after clashes broke out between protesters and security forces on April 28 with police resorting to tear gas shells to disperse the irate mob
According to reliable sources, people are enraged over the non-withdrawal of Police Commando forces from the district headquarters, despite the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum agreeing to withdraw the protest.
Highly agitated mobs gathered at the Tuibong Bazar area and resorted to burning tyres on the roads and ringing electric poles to make their voices heard across every locality
A scuffle broke out between the police and local mobs on the Sielmat Bridge, adding to the already tense situation.
It was reported that the local MLA of 58-Churachandpur Assembly Constituency, LM Khaute, was allegedly attempting to escape the ire of local residents after inviting Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh to the district. According to sources, local people perceive Khaute as anti-tribal, and was escorted by police to Imphal for his safety
Manipur has turned into almost a war zone only a year after the BJP got a decisive majority in the state.
Large gatherings have been banned and mobile internet services suspended in Manipur's Churachandpur following violence ahead of Chief Minister N Biren Singh's visit to the district