As many as 25 women sustained injuries in a major confrontation between Assam Rifles, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and women agitators who protested against the planned mass burial of 35 persons of Kuki-Zo community at Torbung Bangla in Bishnupur district on Thursday, sources said.
The sources said that women protesters from different places stormed Bishnupur district to stop the mass burial by the Kukis.
AR and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells, smoke bombs, pepper spray and even allegedly assaulted women with gun butts to disperse the mob and to stop them from approaching Torbung Bangla.
As per reports, barricades were kept along Tiddim road near Phougakchao Ikhai Bazar community hall to stop the mob from approaching further by the 9th AR personnel.
4th IRB CO RK Saklemba rushed to the area after receiving reports of the conflict and told the women agitators that the mass burial will not take place.
The womenfolk, however, could not be convinced and they demanded to let them enter Torbung Bangla with mediapersons and assured to go back only after confirming that the mass burial had not taken place.
After the situation escalated, AR managed to clear out the mob towards Phougakchao Ikhai Mayai Leikai around 8.15 am.
Around 8.50 am, AR personnel blocked the road by using their Casper vehicle and afterwards, the AR personnel suddenly opened fire from the backside of their casper vehicle.
The State forces also fired shots in the air, after which, the women protesters from the Kwakta Bazar side stormed the area and removed the barricades from the middle of the road.
Another heated argument broke out with the RAF, AR personnel and the mob around 11.50 and men started pelting stones and sticks towards the security forces.
Retaliating at the attack, the Central forces even used pepper spray and fired smoke bombs towards the mob.
A woman also sustained injury after she was allegedly assaulted with a gun butt on her head by the security forces. The mob went helter-skelter and many women were left unconscious of suffocation.
The woman who sustained injury on the head has been identified as one 45-year-old Brahmacharimayum Manitombi, wife of B Meno of Kumbi Shantipur Ward No II Mamang Leikai. The 25 women injured in the clash are being treated at District Hospital Bishnupur.
During the clash between AR and women agitators in Phougakchao Ikhai, numerous women blocked the road in Ningthoukhong Bazar and stopped 10 paramilitary forces vehicles from going towards Moirang.
Huge traffic jam occurred along Tiddim road from Moirang Lamkhai till Phougakchao Ikhai Bazar due to the clash with the security forces.
