Manipur: Clashes in Ukhrul despite Section 144, four injured

Imphal: Four persons, including one police personnel, were injured in violent clashes erupted between the Hunphun locals and Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Friday.

According to the police, an official stationed at the site received injuries on his head in stone pelting by the locals. Three locals also suffered minor injuries from the tear gas used by police personnel to control the mob.

According to sources, the incident happened at about 11:30 am on Friday, when an irate mob stormed into the TNL office in the district headquarters and vandalised the office of the apex body of the Tangkhul community. The mob allegedly destroyed all documents in the office.

Despite a heavy deployment of security forces, the situation soon spiraled out of control. The police then fired several rounds of tear gas and smoke bombs to disperse the mob.

The situation was brought under control after additional forces were called in. However, tensions are running high in Ukhrul district.

Police sources told EastMojo that the TNL executives were holding a meeting at their office despite the prohibitory orders announced under Section 144 by the district authorities, which led to an angry mob storming into their office.

On Thursday evening, district magistrate Joseph Pauline Kamson issued an order imposing sub-section 2 of section 144 CrPC, 1973 with immediate effect until further orders in Ukhrul district headquarters.

While asking for additional support from Assam Rifles, DC Kamson on Friday said there was a further likelihood of clashes and damage to public property in connection with land dispute issues between the TNL and Hunphun village.

The TNL and Hunphun residents have been fighting over a land ownership dispute pertaining to Ukhrul Higher Secondary School, one of the oldest educational institutions in the district.

Earlier, violence erupted in the hill town when TNL tried to take up border pillar erection over the disputed land of UHSS, which according to Hunphun frontal organisations, is under a court injunction.