Churachandpur, April 30: The situation in Manipur’s Churachandpur district remains tense as violence escalated with protesters setting fire to a government range forest office and attacking a police station.
The incident left at least two police personnel and some protesters injured. The unrest began after the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) called for an 8-hour total shutdown in the Chin-Kuki-Mizo dominated district, which ended at 4 pm on Friday.
The shutdown resulted in the closure of business establishments and most government offices, causing further tension in the area. Though the shutdown ended, protesters continued to demand the withdrawal of the Forest Department’s operation against illegal timber traders in the area. The situation became more volatile when the protesters attacked the Churachandpur police station and set fire to three cars.
The escalating violence prompted Churachandpur constituency legislator and former Manipur director general of police LM Khaute to leave his private residence and take refuge in his official quarters in Imphal.
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The situation in Churachandpur town remains tense, with security forces deployed to control the situation. The district administration has also issued an order prohibiting the assembly of more than five people in the town to prevent any further unrest.
The incident has raised concerns over the security situation in the region, with many calling for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict. The Manipur government has been urged to take steps to address the protesters’ demands and restore normalcy in the area. The Forest Department has also been asked to ensure that its operations do not lead to any further unrest in the region.
Meanwhile, the ITLF has condemned the violence and has called for a peaceful resolution to the issue. The group has urged the government to engage in dialogue with the protesters and address their grievances.
