Imphal. Students protesting against the violence that has increased in Manipur in the last nine days pelted stones at the Raj Bhavan on Monday. Earlier, there were attacks by drones and rocket bombs in the last nine days. Rocket bombs were dropped on the residence of the former Chief Minister. There was firing between the Kuki and Meitei communities. There were attempts to loot weapons by attacking police stations and eight people died in these incidents. Hundreds of students protesting against this violence pelted stones at the Raj Bhavan on Monday.
In the video of the attack on Raj Bhavan by the students of the Maiti community, security personnel were also seen running away. However, the police and security forces somehow stopped the protesters by putting up barricades. The police fired several rounds of tear gas shells and rubber bullets. 20 students are reported to be injured in this. These students of the Maiti community have been protesting since September 8 against the sudden increase in violence in Manipur. Local people are also involved in this.
On Sunday, after a three kilometer march on Tiddim Road in Kishmpat, the protesting students reached the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s residence. The students wanted to submit a memorandum to the Governor and the Chief Minister. On Monday, the security forces fulfilled their demand of submitting the memorandum, but even after that, the students continued to protest on the road. The students say that they will stay here until their demands are met. During this, they clashed with the security forces.
The protesting students are protesting against the drone attacks in Maiti areas on August 1 and 3. They accused the central security forces of maintaining silence and demanded them to leave the state. They also asked 50 out of 60 Maiti MLAs of the state to clarify their stand or resign. These students also demand that a unified command be formed in the state and its control be given to Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Unified command means that along with the police, the command of the army and paramilitary forces should also be in the hands of the Chief Minister. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had demanded this when he went to meet the Governor a day earlier. However, the protesting students are also demanding the removal of the Director General of Police and the Security Advisor. It is worth noting that violence has been going on between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur since May 2023. Violence has increased for the last eight days. Eight people have died in this, while more than 15 are injured.