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Violence hits Manipur hill town

By Sobhapati Samom

IMPHAL, Sep 1 - Violence erupted in Manipur�s Churachandpur district headquarters during protests against the passing of three Assembly Bills aimed at protecting the State�s indigenous people. The protesters contend that the Bills will affect the interest of the tribals.

A day after a mob attacked the houses of a Minister and five legislators in Churachandpur town, two more persons said to be agitators were killed while few others sustained injury allegedly in police action today afternoon, sources said. One of the injured reportedly succumbed to the injury. With yesterday�s three victims, the death toll rose to seven today, it added.

Police said the incident happened when the agitators allegedly tried to storm and torch the Churachandpur police station around 2 pm today. Curfew was imposed in the town at 7 pm on Monday.

�The Bills are viewed as anti-tribal which impinged on the traditional tribal rights and land ownership system,� says a joint declaration of Churachandpur-based tribal bodies � Kuki Inpi, Hmar Inpui and Zomi Council after a meeting today, asking Hill Areas Committee to convene a meeting and take appropriate steps to either repeal the Bills or insert new clauses in the Bills within 10 days.

The declaration appealed to all sections of society to desist from all forms of violent methods.

Government spokesman M Okendro told the media on Monday after the Council of Ministers� emergency meeting that the Bill would not infringe upon the interest of hill people in any manner.

Monday evening�s incident happened after the 12-hr bandh in the five hill districts to protest against the Bills.

According to PTI, three persons were killed today when police opened fire on protesters in Manipur�s Churachandpur district taking the overnight toll to eight as fresh violence erupted there, forcing the authorities to continue the indefinite curfew imposed last night.

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