Detained Manipur protesters released, rioting case filed

NEW DELHI: The police on Wednesday released 65 protesters who were detained after a clash broke out outside Manipur Bhawan on Sardar Patel Marg in Chanakyapuri on

NEW DELHI: The police on Wednesday released 65 protesters who were detained after a clash broke out outside Manipur Bhawan on Sardar Patel Marg in Chanakyapuri on Tuesday night.

HT Image

Protests outside Manipur Bhawan turned violent with around 34 people, including 15 police personnel, injured.

Around 500 protesters were outside the Bhawan demanding a meeting with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. T Romeo, convener of the Manipur Tribal Forum — the group under which different student tribal associations were protesting — said the violence was started by Manipur Rifles personnel posted inside the Bhawan.

The groups were protesting against the exclusion of the Naga People’s Front from the all-party delegation led by Ibobi who met Union home minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the Inner Line Permit System-related bill in the state. The tribal groups are against the inner line permit system.

“A delegation was to meet the chief minister. We were all waiting at the gate and around four members from each tribal student group were to meet him. Around 10pm, we were told by the Manipur rifles that the CM was not inside. We wanted to verify their claims and asked them to open the gates,” said Romeo.

Romeo said that the protesters started banging the gates of the Manipur Bhawan.

Bruce, a protester, said, “It started when a Manipur Rifles jawan pelted a brick at the protesters. The protesters got furious and threw the brick at them. There was stone pelting from both sides. The police reached the spot and ordered lathi-charge,” said Bruce.

Police said they had registered a case of rioting but had not arrested anyone in the case.

A senior police officer said three vehicles, including a PCR van, was damaged and that a 15 police personnel was injured in the stone pelting.