Protest against suspension of cop, women locks Thoubal police station

Imphal: A mob comprising mainly Meitei women in Manipur’s Thoubal besieged and locked a police station in the district in protest against the suspension of a policeman in connection with a viral video case.

A mob of Meitei women blocked the Nongpok Sekmai police station in Manipur’s Thoubal district on 31 July, which was reported on the evening of 01 August.
The suspended police officer – the officer-in-charge of Nongpok Sekmai police station in Manipur’s Thoubal district – was suspended for failing to control a mob of rioting men, who stripped two Kuki women on May 4.

Notably, the Officer-in-Charge of Nongpok Sekmai Police Station in Manipur’s Thoubal district – K Premkumar Mangang also belongs to the Meitei community.
After locking down the police station, the mob also reportedly placed sandbags at the entrance of the police station in a futile attempt to end the siege.
However, the situation was soon brought under control after senior officials of Manipur Police reached the spot and calmed down the crowd.

The mob demanded immediate revocation of the Manipur police official’s suspension, saying that mob control was beyond their control as there was a complete breakdown of law and order in the district on May 3 and 4.
Additionally, the mob also issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the police administration in Manipur’s Thoubal district, demanding the withdrawal of the police officer’s suspension order.