Shutdown imposed in Tuibong after night-long clashes, tension linger in Churachandpur
The shutdown had disrupted daily life as authorities step up deployment to prevent further escalation.
Deserted roads and markets in Manipur (AT Image)
Imphal, Feb 6: A total shutdown was imposed in Tuibong on Friday following hours of violent clashes between mobs and security forces that stretched through the night, prompting authorities to tighten security and restrict movement as a precautionary measure.
The violence erupted around 6 pm on Thursday in parts of Churachandpur district and continued intermittently until about 3 am on Friday.
Security personnel resorted to repeated rounds of teargas shelling to disperse agitating crowds, as confrontations flared and subsided through the night.
According to unverified sources, at least two people sustained injuries during the clashes, while around five individuals were picked up by security forces.
However, officials had not issued any formal confirmation regarding the number of injured or detained persons till the filing of this report.
Sources said the clashes first broke out near the Tuibong Forest Gate area when mobs allegedly began pelting stones at deployed security personnel, forcing them to retreat temporarily.
The forces later regrouped at a strategic point along the road and launched teargas shelling, managing to disperse the crowd briefly.
The situation, however, escalated again as the mob regrouped and renewed attacks. At around 11:10 pm, security forces carried out a lathi charge to regain control. Despite these measures, intermittent attacks and counter-action continued, with repeated teargas shelling reported till the early hours of Friday.
In the aftermath of the night-long unrest, authorities imposed a shutdown across Tuibong to prevent further escalation and to allow security forces to stabilise the situation. Shops and markets remained closed, vehicular movement was minimal, and residents stayed indoors amid fears of fresh clashes.
The shutdown has disrupted daily life in the area, affecting access to markets, transport, and routine economic activity. Residents said the uncertainty and tension have created an atmosphere of unease, with many bracing for prolonged restrictions if the situation does not ease.
The clashes come amid simmering tensions in Kuki-dominated areas of Churachandpur following protests against an MLA from the community, Nemcha Kipgen, joining the BJP-led government as deputy chief minister.
On Thursday evening, protesters had gathered near Tuibong Bazaar, torching discarded materials, including tyres, and raising slogans against the political development.
As security forces moved in to disperse the crowd, the situation turned violent, with stone-pelting reported and a baton charge carried out. Officials said two people sustained minor injuries during this phase of the unrest.
Security deployment has since been intensified across Tuibong and surrounding areas. Additional forces have been rushed in, and authorities said the shutdown was imposed purely as a preventive step to avoid further flare-ups.
While officials described the situation as tense, they maintained that it remains under control for now.
However, with political discontent continuing, the shutdown underscores the fragile ground situation in parts of Manipur, where authorities are walking a tightrope between maintaining order and preventing further unrest.
With inputs from PTI