Student killed, several hurt in Manipur violence
Imphal: A class XI student was killed and several others were injured in Manipur on Wednesday in violent clashes that erupted after police opened fire at protestors demanding a stringent law to check the influx of immigrants.
The state government imposed indefinite curfew in Imphal East and West.
Sapam Robinhood, a student from Ananda Singh Academy Higher Secondary School, was hit by teargas shells. He was rushed to Raj Medicity hospital in a critical condition but he succumbed to his injuries.
The protestors, including women and students wings of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), had launched a stir to boycott the assembly after the government failed to pass a stringent law to check immigrants.
The protestors were marching towards the assembly to meet Speaker Th. Lokeshwar Singh to demand stoppage of the ongoing assembly session. They accused the ruling Congress of failing to introduce a stringent law to check the illegal influx.
The women protestors also stormed the residence of Lokeshwar Singh at Keishampat forcing authorities to deploy more security forces to guard the speaker's residence to avert any untoward incident.
The clashes began after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protestors. Following the death of Robinhood, students took to the streets to protest against the police action.
Early this year, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh introduced the 'Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers' Bill 2015 in the assembly to safeguard the interests of the indigenous people of the state.
However, JCILPS said the bill was protecting the interests of immigrants rather than the indigenous people of Manipur.
"We are not at all happy with the 'Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers' Bill 2015. The people of Manipur were expecting a stringent law besides preventing migrants from land ownership right," JCILPS convenor Khomdram Ratan said.
Ratan said the JCILPS would intensify its agitation till the state government implement a stringent law.