Newmai News Network
Imphal: At least two vehicles parked in the premises of the office of the deputy commissioner of Imphal West district were torched as violent agitations over the kidnaping and killing of two teenage students by armed miscreants in strife-torn Manipur continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday.
Defying curfew, people came out on the streets in their respective areas and staged protests demanding immediate booking of the culprits involved in the killing of the two students.
The agitations erupted on Tuesday after photos of two teenage students who were missing since July 6 last, before and after death in the custody of armed miscreants, surfaced on social media on Monday.
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The agitators alleged that the two students were killed by armed miscreants belonging to Kuki community in cold blood after being abducted.
Late on Wednesday night, around 11.40 pm, a large number of agitators stormed the office complex of DC Imphal West at Lamphel by breaking the closed gate.
The agitators smashed the window panes of the office by pelting stones. They also ransacked furniture and other belongings of the DC office besides torching two vehicles –a Bolero and an Alto Car – which were parked inside the office complex before a strong team of police and RAF arrived.
The police and RAF personnel opened fire with several rounds of tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse the crowd.
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Around the same time, thousands of people marched a slogan chanting protest rally in Uripok area along Imphal-Kangchup Road.
When the rally targeted the Khwairamband Keithel located in the heart of the state capital, the police and RAF personnel dispersed them using tear gas shells and mock bombs besides baton-charging, injuring many agitators.
Earlier, in the late evening, a large number of agitators marched towards the residence of state BJP president A Sarda Devi at Bamon Leikai in Imphal East district.
The police, however, managed to stop them before reaching the residences after a brief scuffle.
During the scuffle, the agitators set on fire the official vehicle of the SDPO of Porompat police at Loklaobung Thongkhong.
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Another group of agitators also marched to the residence of MAHUD minister Y Khemchand at Singjamei Yumnam Leikai. However, the police controlled the situation before causing any damage to the residence of the minister.
Denouncing state government’s alleged failure to end the nearly five month old crisis and unable to book the culprits involved in the killing of the two students by armed miscreants, a large number of agitators also stormed and burnt down BJP Thoubal district office at Khongjom last evening.
At first, the BSF personnel detailed to guard the office fired several rounds of tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse the crowd.
However, as the number of agitators grew in size, the security personnel were forced to evacuate to Khongjom police station.
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The irate crowd ransacked the properties inside the BJP office and burnt the building.
Continuing the agitations, people across the five valley districts staged protests in their respective areas on Thursday defying the curfew.
There was no relaxation of curfew in the twin capital districts of Imphal East and Imphal West for the day. However, the people dared to defy the curfew and staged the protests.