Fresh Violence In Manipur, Women Protesters Block Roads, Burn Tyres

Fresh violence erupted in Manipur's Imphal on Saturday after women protesters blocked roads and burnt tyres in the Ghari area, prompting cops to take action.

Following the incident, the Manipur armed police, Army, and rapid action battalion were rushed to the spot to quell the protesters. The officers doused the fire and brought the situation under control.

Additionally, a flag march was conducted in several areas to control the protestors.

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the Meiteis and Kukis concentrated in Imphal valley.

Nearly 160 people have lost their lives and several injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.

When the state was trying to return to normalcy, a video dated May 4 surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a few men from the other side.

The video was doing the rounds on the eve of a planned protest march announced by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on Thursday to highlight their plight.

Police said a case of abduction, gang rape and murder has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed miscreants.