Police and protesters clash at Manipur torch rally.

In the city of Imphal, a tragic incident has sparked protests among the people. Two innocent children lost their lives in a bomb blast that occurred in the Tronglaobi area of Bishnupur on April 7. Since then, the Imphal Valley districts have been experiencing daily demonstrations as a form of mourning for the young lives lost.

On Monday night, a torch rally was organized from Mayai Lambi to Keishamthong in the Imphal West district. However, what was meant to be a peaceful procession turned violent as some of the participants clashed with the security forces. According to a police officer, the situation escalated when the protesters defied the curfew and demanded to continue their march towards Keisampat, which is near the Lok Bhavan and BJP state office.

In response, the security forces had to resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. To maintain the safety and security of the citizens, orders have been issued to restrict the movement of individuals outside their homes from 5 pm to 5 am in all five valley districts. The police officer also reported that the protesters were using stones and iron pellets to attack the security forces, putting their lives at risk.

In the Greater Imphal area, the police have arrested 19 individuals for violating the curfew and committing various offenses, such as blocking roads and damaging public property. They were apprehended from different parts of the Imphal West district on Sunday, as stated in a police statement. Meanwhile, in Ukhrul district, a candlelight vigil was held to honor the two Tangkhul Naga civilians who were killed in an ambush in TM Kasom area on April 18.

This tragic event has been strongly condemned by various civil society organizations from both the valley and hill areas, as they allege that the victims were shot by Kuki militants using sniper rifles. These recent events have caused a lot of tension and unrest in the city, and the authorities are working hard to maintain peace and order. The loss of innocent lives is always a tragedy, and the community must come together to find justice for the victims and their families.

Let us all hope for a peaceful resolution to this difficult situation.