Intense scuffle broke out between Womenfolks, Security forces; more than 60 people injured

Intense scuffle broke out between the Meira Paibis (womenfolk) and central security forces in the strife-hit Bishnupur district on Wednesday's afternoon when a large group of crowd, under the aegis of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), tried to storm the barricades of security forces for its removal towards Torbung, Churachandpur.

At 60 people, including a journalist, reportedly injured in Phougakchao Ikhai after the Rapid Action Forces (RAF) fired tear gas shells, mock bombs and rubber bullets to disperse the gathering crowd.

Notwithstanding the State Government's fervent appeal made to COCOMI for withdrawal of its plan to storm security barricades at Phougakchai Ikhai, and despite a public curfew imposed by district administration in Bishnupur district, the COCOMI moved ahead as a part of its call to remove barricades of security forces at Phougakchao Ikhai and Torbung. The protesters numbering about ten thousand people gathered at the Kwakta public ground since morning and moved towards security barricades located at about 1km away from Kwakta, a Meitei-Pangal inhabited area, towards Kangvai, Churachandpur.

Protestors stormed the security forces stationed at Phougakchao Ikhai and began to remove several barricades. The central security forces tried to stop the crowd but failed to managed at the first place. An intense scuffle broke out between the two thereafter, and the crowd insisted on storming army barricades. In order to disperse the large gathering, the security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells, mock bombs and even blankfired.

After few hours of the melee, the situation became under control and the protesters thus withdrew from the spot. However, tense situation prevailed the whole day between the two warring communities of Meitei and Kuki-Zo in peripheral areas.

The COCOMI had earlier called the Meitei community to storm barricades of central security forces present in the buffer zones between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, alleging that their presence was a hindering process for resettlement of Meitei community in Torbung areas under Churachandpur district. The Kuki-Zo community vehemently denied the entry of their warring enemies in their areas and thus reportedly ready to welcome them in their own way.

On Tuesday, the Joint Students' Body (JSB) of Lamka district issued a statement with regard to the proposed removal for security barricades by COCOMI at Phougakchao and Torbung areas. The student body stated that the village volunteers who are manning the duty posts along the buffer zones in and around Kangvai, Loklaiphai, Khousabung, Bunglon,Pholjang, Gothol, Phoisanbung, Songdo, Muolhoi, Muoingat, Laika, Khousabung, Chingphei,Lonphai, Geljang, L. Phainom, Leisanbung, Molphei Tampak and other areas eagerly awaited the visit of the marching crowd, and were willing to arrange a grand welcome reception for the visiting community, who had declared WAR against the Chin-Kuki-Zo communities.

"It is learnt that the reception party, which has increased double-fold in number in anticipation of this unexpected visit, is reminded to arrange adequate garlands and other memorable gifts for our expected guests, as is our custom," the Students body stated.