Manipur police threaten riot control measures if protesters continue to attack police

The warning was issued on Sunday in response to a protest in Kakwa that escalated into violence on Saturday. Police found that bullet-proof vehicles belonging to Imphal West and East police superintendents were damaged by bullets allegedly fired by protesters.

Tensions among protesters escalated after a 34-year-old woman suffered a miscarriage on Saturday after being suffocated by tear gas shells fired by police during a demonstration in Imphal earlier this week.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Range I, N. Herojit told the media on Sunday that armed miscreants, in efforts to control an angry mob in Kakwa area, allegedly attacked the police with firing arms and tear gas shells around 11.30 pm on Saturday. The miscreants even fired volleys at the bulletproof vehicle of the SP, Imphal East, he said.

“It is unfortunate that unlike previous protests, the police are now facing retaliatory attacks from protesters using lethal weapons, including incendiary devices, sharp iron pieces thrown from slingshots and automatic firearms,” ​​Herojit said.

Earlier, on the night of September 6-7, the Commanding Officer of Imphal East Commando and another staff member sustained bullet injuries allegedly fired by protesters in Khabeisoi, Imphal East while controlling a mob that was trying to storm the 7th Manipur Rifles Regiment to loot firearms from the armoury.

Herojit stressed that the Manipur Police used minimum force while controlling the mob while keeping public safety in mind. He urged the public to carry out the protests in a democratic manner without damaging public property.

“Police are not the enemy, they are also a son of the soil. Armed miscreants who mingle with protesters and target police must be stopped. Do not force police to take extreme measures while controlling a mob,” Herojit said.

He also appealed to the public not to share live videos of the protests as this could lead to further violence.

Since September 10, the Manipur government has banned mobile data and internet services as a precautionary measure to contain escalating violence in the Imphal region.

SP Imphal West, Ksh Shivakanta, reported that his bulletproof vehicle was hit by more than 15 bullets allegedly fired by protesters during the Kakwa protests on Saturday night. He also mentioned that a video circulating on social media showed tear gas shells being fired at police, allegedly from the crowd of protesters. There were also reports of armed miscreants threatening local residents to open their gates to provide them hideouts if the police took strict action against the protesters.

Shivakanta urged the public to avoid violent protests, especially during the night, and not to participate in such activities while under the influence of intoxicating substances.

SP Imphal East, K Meghachandra, said that the police had repeatedly faced situations where armed miscreants used innocent protesters as human shields and attacked the police with lethal weapons.

He warned the perpetrators against using innocent civilians as human shields as this could lead to serious consequences. He also stated that the public alone would be responsible if serious consequences arise from such protests.