Manipur: Protestors pour petrol on head, threaten to set themselves ablaze, curfew imposed
PTC News Desk: Fresh violence and heightened tensions have gripped Manipur after a group of young men poured petrol on their heads and threatened that they would put themselves on fire. The unrest was reported in capital Imphal following reports of the arrest of a leader and a few other members of the Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol.
In footage from the protest, a group of young men dressed in black t-shirts were seen holding bottles filled with petrol. One of them was heard saying, "We’ve laid down our weapons. We did our part during the floods. Now you're arresting us. We will take our own lives."
Kanan Singh is the prime accused in the February 2024 attack on the residence of Additional Superintendent of Police Moirangthem Amit and the subsequent abduction of the officer. At the time, Singh was serving as a head constable with a state police commando unit but was suspended the same month for "dereliction of duty."
Protesters burned tyres and old furniture on the roads, surrounded the airport entrance, and clashed with security personnel, demanding Singh’s release. Some even attempted self-immolation in Imphal. The atmosphere remained highly volatile on Sunday.
A curfew has been imposed and internet has been snapped for five days in five districts - Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, and Kakching.
The United National Liberation Front (Pambei), or UNLF (P), is the only Meitei militant group that signed a SoO-like ceasefire with the Centre and the state government.
- PTC NEWS
