Manipur Security Forces Resort To Tear Gas As Students Attempt To March Towards Raj Bhavan

Manipur violence: Tear gas shells were fired on Tuesday as students and women protestors clashed with security forces in Imphal, Manipur . The protesters, who had been camped at Khwairamband Women Market since Monday, attempted to march towards the Raj Bhavan to demand the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) and the security advisor to the Manipur government. 

The demonstrators, numbering in the hundreds, were halted by security forces near the Congress Bhavan while trying to proceed along BT Road.

In a separate demonstration, students from Manipur University staged a protest rally and burned an effigy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah .

In response to the escalating protests, the Manipur government has imposed a curfew in Imphal East and West districts and enacted prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS in Thoubal. 

Internet Snapped, Curfew Imposed In Manipur  

Internet services have been suspended in  Manipur after a curfew was imposed in the state. The data services have been snapped in the entire state for five days amid student agitation, a Home department notification confirmed the development.

The decision was taken to curb the use of social media for transmission of images, hate speech, and hate video, the state home department said in a notification.

"Temporary suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, broadbands, and VPN services (were ordered) in the territorial jurisdiction of the state of  Manipur for five days with effect from 3 PM of September 10 to 3 PM of September 15," the notification said.

Security forces fired tear gas shells on Tuesday as student and women demonstrators clashed with them during the agitators' attempt to march towards the Raj Bhavan to press for their demands for the removal of the DGP and the security advisor to the  Manipur government, officials said.

Curfew in  Manipur amid students protest 

Prohibitory orders were imposed in three districts of  Manipur , a day after student protests demanding the restoration of peace in the strife-torn state rocked Imphal Valley.

An indefinite curfew, preventing people from coming outside their houses, was clamped in Imphal East and West districts, while prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS were imposed in Thoubal.

"Due to the developing law and order situation in the district, earlier orders of curfew relaxation stand canceled immediately from 11 am of September 10. Hence, there is a total curfew in Imphal East district with immediate effect until further orders," an order issued by the district magistrate said.

Another order issued by the district magistrate of Imphal West said, "In supersession of all earlier orders, the curfew relaxation period for September 10 is hereby lifted with effect from 11 am of today." "Restriction on the movement of people outside their respective residences was lifted from September 1 last year," it said.

Earlier, curfew relaxation for September 10 was lifted from 5 am to 10 pm but was superseded with the latest order.

Essential services, including media, electricity, court and health, are however exempted from the purview of the curfew, it said.