Manipur: 7 Injured During Protest Outside Raj Bhavan In Imphal

The protesters were responding to a call by COCOMI to stage mass agitation gathered at Khwairamband and took out a rally following which they were stopped by security forces.

People raise slogans during a protest march towards Raj Bhavan over alleged removal of the Manipur state's name from a government bus, in Imphal.

Source : PTI

A scuffle broke out between protesters and security forces on Sunday while they were on their way to gherao the Raj Bhavan in Imphal, leading to the injuries of seven women.

The clash happened while the protestors surrounded the Raj Bhavan over the removal of the state's name from a government bus.

The protesters were responding to a call by COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) to stage mass agitation gathered at Khwairamband and took out a rally following which they were stopped by security forces. 

The agitators were demanding an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla over an alleged insult to Manipur’s identity.

The security forces, meanwhile fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters in front of Kangla Gate, some 150 metres from Raj Bhavan gate.

Seven protesters have been admitted to hospital with injuries, a hospital official said.

"The governor continues to disregard the sentiments of the people by his silence. He and his administration has completely humiliated the state's historical and cultural legacy all the while administering the state. The inquiry commission set up by the government to probe the incident is not enough and does not mention anything about penalising those who were involved," a protester said.

The protest follows outrage over a reported directive to remove Manipur from Manipur State Transport bus with journalists on board on May 20 en route to the Shirui Festival in Ukhrul district.

The Manipur government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the allegations that security personnel forced to cover the state's name on a bus taking journalists to the Shirui Lily festival.

COCOMI has announced statewide agitation and demanded the resignation of the Chief Secretary, DGP, and Security Advisor.

The protestors alleged that security forces had stopped the state-run bus, on which journalists were being taken by the government to cover the tourism festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday, and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper.