Imphal:
A mob attacked the office of the Superintendent of Police in Kangpokpi district on Friday evening over the non-removal of central forces from Manipur’s Saibol village. There is news of many people being injured in this attack. Saibol village is situated on the border of Imphal East district.

The attackers pelted stones and other objects at the office to express their anger over the continuous deployment of central forces, especially the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the village, an official said. The vehicles of the district police kept in the premises of the Superintendent of Police office were also damaged.

Kuki organizations are protesting against the alleged lathicharge on women by security forces on December 31 in Saibol village. An economic blockade was also imposed by a tribal body in the Kuki-Jo populated areas.

Another organization, Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), had also observed a 24-hour bandh in the district on December 31 to protest against the alleged lathi charge on women in Saibol village.

Tribal body Kuki-Jo Council said that the economic blockade, which started at midnight on January 2, will continue till 2 am on Friday in protest against ‘neglect of tribal rights and dignity’.

The organization said that during the blockade, the passage of vehicles and transportation of essential commodities will be prohibited through populated areas.

Tribal body president Henlianthang Thanglet said in Churachandpur that the Kuki-Jo Council would intensify the protest if compensation was not given to the women injured in the alleged lathicharge by security forces.

Also on Tuesday, clashes broke out between a mob led by Kuki-jo women and security forces in Kangpokpi district, creating fresh tension in the ethnic conflict-hit state.