Fresh violence in Manipur

IMPHAL, JUNE 19. Fresh violent protests against extension of Nagaland truce today rocked interior areas of Manipur Valley district as Army and para-military personnel staged flag march in the State capital and its outskirts.

Angry demonstrators protested against extension of the ceasefire to Manipur and burnt effigies of central and NSCN(I-M) leaders at Moirang in interior Bishenpur district, where indefinite curfew had not been imposed so far, official sources said.

Police and security forces dispersed the violent crowd and no casualty was reported, the sources said adding setting afire of effigies was reported also from Thoubal district where indefinite curfew was relaxed for two hours.

Army and para-military forces flag-marched throughout Imphal and Greater Imphal areas as tension ran high following refusal by relatives to take possession of the bodies, the sources said.

The All Manipur Students' Union and the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation warned of a series of agitation unless the ceasefire was withdrawn from Naga-dominated areas of Manipur.

Meanwhile, airlifting of Army and para-military forces to Manipur continued throughout the day today. Reinforcements were being sent to several places in Manipur valley, particularly in two Imphal districts - East and West.

Central observers arrived here from Delhi to make an on-the-spot study of the situation.

The Manipur Director General of Police, Mr. A.A. Siddiqui, said a magisterial inquiry would be ordered into the death of 13 people in Monday's police firing. The inquiry would be headed by the Deputy Commissioner (Imphal West).

MLAs, MPs told to quit

A Congress party office was torched in the curfew-bound capital town here as all the 60 MLAs and three MPs were asked to resign within 24 hours by the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) and four other organisations.

Official sources said unidentified persons set afire the Congress office at Chekon in the heart of the town in spite of indefinite curfew and stringent security besides flag marches by the Army in Imphal and Greater Imphal. Fire brigade brought the fire under control immediately.

In a joint statement, the AMSU and four organisations threatened that if the MLAs and MPs did not resign within 24 hours, action would be taken ``very soon'' as the Centre-NSCN(I-M) ceasefire extension to Manipur had deeply hurt the feelings and sentiments of people.

The organisations said they would plan their next move within a day or two after ascertaining the decision of MLAs and MPs within the 24-hour deadline.

- PTI

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