CHURACHANDPUR: Large gatherings have been banned and mobile internet services have been suspended in Manipur’s Churachandpur following violence ahead of Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s visit to the district on Friday.
Miscreants, on Thursday night in southern Churachandpur set ablaze the venue where the Chief Minister is scheduled to address a meeting today allegedly over the BJP government’s survey of reserved and protected forests and areas like wetlands.
S. Thienlaljoy Gangte, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur district in an official communiqué citing a police report said- likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquility and grave danger to human lives and properties have coerced authorities to impose Section 144 in order to maintain law and order in the district.
The mob managed to partially torch the newly set-up open gym at PT Sports complex at New Lamka which Biren Singh was slated to inaugurate on Friday afternoon, police said.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) is observing an eight-hour shutdown in the Churachandpur district from 8 a.m. to protest the state government’s eviction drive from the protected and reserve forests.
The ITLF in a statement said that they had despite submitting several memoranda to the state government expressing their grievances and apprehensions about the survey carried out by the government in connection to reserve forests and protected forest, wetlands and wildlife, and the eviction of villagers, “the government has shown no sign of willingness or sincerity in addressing the plight of the people.”