NEW DELHI (AFP) – Authorities in India’s northeastern state of Manipur imposed a curfew yesterday after violent rallies staged to condemn the latest round of killings in clashes.
Manipur has been rocked by periodic clashes for more than a year.
At least 11 people were killed last week as hostilities erupted again after months of relative calm.
The curfew was imposed in the state capital Imphal and the surrounding valley after student-led protests on Monday sparked clashes with police. Students “provoked” security officials protecting the state governor’s residence in Imphal “by pelting stones and throwing plastic bottles”, police said in a statement on Monday. Protesters in another valley district snatched arms from police and fired at them, the statement said.
“One police personnel was hit on the left thigh by a live round and another police personnel was hit in the face by an unknown projectile,” it said. A local government notice announced a “total curfew… with immediate effect until further orders”. Protesters were demanding action against insurgents accused of using “improvised” projectile weapons and drone attacks last week.
