Imphal, June 9 (UNI) Protests continued in Manipur over the arrest of Arambai Tengol leader, which resulted in the injury of 15 persons, including two journalists.
To control the situation, the government has suspended internet services and imposed an indefinite curfew in five districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts.
Police also clarified that the AT leader Kanan was arrested by the CBI in some other case and not as a leader of AT. Four others who were arrested along with Kanan were also released, police said, and only Kanan was flown out of the state on Sunday.
Police said it is trying to control the situation; however, some unknown persons tried to burn the Sub-Divisional Collector (SDC) Office at Yairipok Tulihal, in Imphal East district, on Sunday night. Large numbers of people defying curfew came out on Monday to register their protests and blocked roads as Arambai Tengol announced a ten-day bandh for the arrest of its leader.
The bandh which began on Sunday has led to the closure of all educational institutes, and markets have been closed and examinations have been postponed.
The Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) and the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) have also strongly condemned the brutal assault on two reporters of Impact TV News by CRPF personnel when they were on duty covering a public protest at Kwakeithel , Imphal.
An FIR in connection with the incident will be filed as journalists were assaulted even after they identified themselves.
All editorials of all newspapers on Monday were blank and carried a common slogan "AMWJU & EGM condemn repeated assault and intimidation of journalists."
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