17 injured in Manipur as security forces use tear gas; curfew relaxations revoked.

NEW DELHI: Around 17 people were injured in clashes as Army and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells in Kangvai and Phougakchao areas in Bishnupur district of Manipur on Thursday to stop processions from proceeding to a proposed burial site in violation of restrictions on gatherings.

The district magistrates of Imphal East and Imphal West have withdrawn curfew relaxations that were earlier announced.

Here are the top developments through the day:

★Miscreants looted arms and ammunition from the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion outpost at Naransena in Bishnupur district on Thursday morning. Another group of miscreants also attempted to loot arms and ammunition from the 2nd Manipur Rifles complex at Imphal but security personnel deployed at that camp foiled the attempt by firing several rounds of tear gas shells.

★Tension had been brewing since morning in Bishnupur district as hundreds of locals came out on the streets to go towards the burial site and to block the movement of security forces. Locals led by women tried to pass the barricade put up by the Army and RAF personnel, demanding that they be allowed to go to Tuibuong, the burial site. The security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob, resulting in injuries.

★Hours before a planned mass burial of Kuki-Zomi people killed in Manipur’s ethnic violence, the state’s high court on Thursday ordered that the status quo be maintained at the proposed burial site in Churachandpur district, while ITLF, an apex tribal body, said it was postponing the funeral service plans by seven days following requests from the Union home ministry. The Kuki-Zomi organisation, Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, had planned the burial of 35 people, who were killed in ethnic riots in the state, on Thursday at a site in Haolai Khopi village of Churachandpur, resulting in tension in many districts of Manipur. The HC took into consideration the “potential of aggravating the already volatile law and order situation and the possibility of igniting a fresh wave of violence and bloodshed due to gathering of a large mob at the land in question”.

(With inputs from agencies)