Police fire to disperse protesters in Imphal

IMPHAL, JULY 22. Police opened fire and burst teargas shells to disperse several thousands of people who gathered at various places tonight in apprehension that the Centre-NSCN (I-M) ceasefire would be extended for one year from August 1. No casualty was however reported, official sources said.

Sources said tensions ran high following reports published in a section of the press that the ceasefire would be extended for an year to bring peace to the northeast.

Reports in the evening papers here said that the Centre's envoy, Mr. K. Padmanabhaiah, had left for Amsterdam to meet the NSCN (I- M) chief, Mr. Muivah, to discuss the issue. But the reports did not mention anything about the withdrawal of the ceasefire.

Soon after the news was circulated, thousands of people, including women with torches, gathered at Kurai, Nongmeibung and Kwakeithel and shouted slogans, official sources said, adding that police and paramilitary forces were struggling to disperse the mob.

``Mr. Muivah may talk a lot but we will not allow the Government to break up our State,'' the protesters shouted.

At Lilong, about 10 km south of here, more than 70,000 Muslims organised sit-in protests, official sources said. Reports from the districts said over a lakh people in Imphal defied curfew and prohibitory orders and launched dharnas and rallies.

The State Government has alerted all police and security posts in view of the 24-hour general strike by the United Committee Manipur, which is spearheading the anti-ceasefire stir.

In Kohima, several Naga organisations urged the Centre not to abrogate its ceasefire agreement, cautioning that such a decision might derail the entire peace process.

The Ex-parliamentarians' Association of Nagaland expressed serious concern over the development in the region and appealed to the neighbouring States to be ``more considerate and conduct a serious retrospection'' into the events of northeastern political history pertaining to Nagaland.

About 200 activists of the Students Federation of India and the Manipur State Council (MSC) courted arrest defying indefinite curfew and prohibitory orders, official sources said here. The MSC joint-secretary, Ms. N. Uma Devi, said the arrested students included the MSC secretary, Ms. A. Ibemcha Chanu, and president in-charge, Ms. H. Ibetombi Devi.

- PTI

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