• Source:JND
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Fresh violence erupted in strife-torn Manipur as protestors clashed with police in multiple parts of the state, demanding the unconditional release of five arrested youths, who were caught in the uniform of security forces and carrying sophisticated arms on September 16.

Following the arrest of five youths, thousands of agitators, mostly women attempted to storm police stations and started mass court arrests in five valley districts including Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal West, and Imphal East, and Kakching, as reported by news agency IANS.

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The residents and civil society organisations also imposed a 48-hour lockdown in the Valley from Tuesday, demanding the release of the detained men. The unofficial strike reportedly began on Monday. The lockdown also affected the normal life in five Meitei community-dominated valley districts.

Angry protestors clashed with the police and other security agencies at various places. The police reportedly used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Several people have reportedly sustained injuries in the incident.

Following this, the state administration has revoked curfew relaxation orders and re-imposed prohibitory orders restricting mass gatherings.

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The curfew relaxations were cancelled in the twin districts of Imphal from 5 pm Thursday after protestors tried to storm police stations, as reported by news agency PTI.

"We were left with no option but to court arrest as the government failed to release the five village volunteers. If such village volunteers are arrested, who will protect the Meitei villages in the periphery of the hills and the valley Kuki Zo militants," news agency PTI quoted a protester at Porompat as saying.

The ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3. (Image: ANI)

Earlier on September 16, the Manipur Police arrested five people for carrying sophisticated weapons and wearing camouflage outfits. According to the police, all five men had been produced before a judicial magistrate and remanded to police custody.

More than 160 people have been killed while several others injured ever since the ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 after the tribals of the Kuki community attended a ‘Solidarity March’ to protest against the inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the ST category.