The Manipur Police on Monday said that the situation in the state was tense but under control, all the while pointing out that search operations and area domination is being continuously conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts.
A statement from the Manipur Police Control Room on Monday said that security forces recovered arms and ammunition including one 12-Bore gun and one Baofeng Handset during search operations at Gamphajang in Churachandpur district.
It also said that 35 empty cartridges, thirteen live ammunition rounds, one digital Wristwatch, two Empty cartridges of Lathode were also seized from Laimaton, Thangbuh, Kangpokpi district.
The statement further said that several groups of students started an unlawful assembly in front of Raj Bhavan Main gate on Monday, violating prohibitory orders issued by District Magistrate, Imphal West.
It asserted that Manipur Police tried to pacify the agitating students and warned them to disperse, explaining the enforcement of the order of the District Magistrate, Imphal West in the area. However, the protest turned violent and provoked the Police personnel by pelting stones and throwing plastic water bottles in front of the Main Gate of Raj Bhavan, it noted.
It pointed out that the Police party along with CAPF personnel with due orders from the Executive Magistrate used minimum force to disperse the unruly mob.
It mentioned that another similar incident occurred at Thoubal District, wherein a large number of protestors including students approached the District Police HQ from both sides of NH-102. It maintained that Police personnel warned the people to disperse but the unruly mob got violent and there was live firing from amongst the crowd towards the police personnel in which one police personnel was hit on the left thigh by a live round.
It claimed that the unruly mob also damaged one vehicle parked outside the Court complex. Some stones were also pelted towards an ambulance carrying the injured, it added.
In order to disperse the violent mob, security forces resorted to mild use of force, anti-riot tear gas and blank firing in a safe direction, it stated. It also said that earlier at around noon time, a large group of students tried to storm the Main gate of Thoubal DC Office, in which police personnel on duty warned the students to disperse peacefully.
Not heeding the warning, the students resorted to pelting stones towards the DC gate, it said adding that minimum force was used to disperse the violent students. In the stone pelting some students received minor injuries due to stone pelted by them only, and minor damage was done to certain sections of the DC Office gate, Thoubal, it stated.
Manipur Police requests the public not to resort to violence while protesting and to protest peacefully within the confines of the law, the statement said. It alleged that some miscreants motivated by vested interests are taking undue advantage of such protests.
It also noted that there were certain social media reports that student protestors replaced the National Flag at the DC office in Thoubal and clarified that the report is fake.
The student protestors tried to replace an old and worn out Salai Taret (7 coloured flag) which was on the outside gate of DC office, Thoubal, it stated. It mentioned that both the flags were removed from the gate after the mob was dispersed by the police.
It maintained that movement of 221 and 179 vehicles along NH-37 and NH-2 respectively with essential items have been ensured and strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles.
It also said that a total of 101 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and Police detained 2 persons in connection with violations in different districts of the state.
It further appealed to the general public not to believe in rumours and be aware of false videos. It also advised them to confirm any circulation of unfounded videos by dialling rumour-free number - 9233522822 of the Central Control room and to return looted arms, ammunition and explosives to the police or nearest security forces immediately.
