Manipur unrest: Torch rally over Tronglaobi blast turns violent; protesters clash with security forces

IMPHAL: Protests over the death of two children in a recent bomb blast in Manipur turned violent, with demonstrators clashing with security forces during a torch rally in Imphal, police said.The two children were killed in a blast at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district on April 7, triggering daily protests across Imphal Valley districts.On Monday night, a seven-kilometre-long torch rally was taken out from Mayai Lambi to Keishamthong in Imphal West district. However, the situation escalated when participants turned aggressive and confronted security personnel, a police officer said.Security forces fired multiple rounds of tear gas in the Keishamthong area after hundreds of protesters, defying curfew, demanded permission to march an additional 200 metres towards Keisampat—near the Lok Bhavan and the BJP state office, he added.Orders prohibiting the movement of any individuals outside their respective homes are in force in all the five valley districts from 5 pm to 5 am."Protesters pelted the security forces with stones and iron pellets from catapults, endangering the lives of the heavily outnumbered security forces," the officer said.Meanwhile, Manipur Police have arrested 19 people for violating curfew and engaging in offences such as road blockades and damage to public property in the Greater Imphal area. The arrests were made from various parts of Imphal West district on Sunday, according to a police statement.In Ukhrul district headquarters, a candlelight vigil was held on Monday night to pay tribute to two Tangkhul Naga civilians who were killed in an ambush in the TM Kasom area on April 18.(With agnecy inputs)