Amid curfew in Bishnupur 17 injured in clash with RAF personnel

Imphal: A total of 17 people were injured in clashes when Army and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells in Kangvai and Phougakchao areas of Bishnupur district on Thursday.

The district magistrates of Imphal East and Imphal West also withdrew the curfew relaxation announced earlier, imposing daytime restrictions as a precautionary measure on top of the night curfew across the entire Imphal Valley.
Hours before the clashes, plans for a mass burial of Kuki Zomi people killed in Manipur’s ethnic violence were put on hold after the state’s high court on Thursday morning ordered a stay at the proposed burial site in Churachandpur district.
The ITLF, an apex tribal body, also said it was postponing the burial of 35 people at the site in Haolai Khopi village of Churachandpur district, bordering Bishnupur.
Tension prevailed in Bishnupur district since morning as thousands of locals took to the streets to block the movement of security forces.
Locals led by women tried to break through the barricade set up by army and RAF personnel, demanding that they be allowed access to Tuibuong, the burial site.

During the day, the state government withdrew the relaxation of curfew in Imphal East and West districts as a precautionary measure.
The District Magistrates of Imphal East and West issued separate orders reimposing the curfew for the day, fearing a disturbance.