Fresh violence in Manipur as women block roads, cops fire tear gas shells

Fresh violence was reported in Manipur’s Imphal after women protestors blocked both sides of a main road in the Ghari area.

The women protestors burnt tires during the protests, prompting cops to take action. The Manipur armed police, Army and rapid action battalion in an operation doused the fire and brought the situation under control. A flag march was conducted in several areas to control the protestors.

Manipur state has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between majority the Meiteis, concentrated in Imphal valley, and the Kukis, occupying the hills. Over 160 people have been killed in the violence so far. Several incidents of arson, loot, violence and mob-build-up have been reported from various parts of the state.

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 group of men from the other side. The video has stoked a nationwide outrage.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the incident. The 26-second video capturing the ordeal of the two tribal women surfaced a day after ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3.