Complex dedicated to demi-god Panthou Masaikon turns into battlefield

The ritual complex dedicated to demi-god Panthou Masaikon located at Wangkhei Hijam Leirak in Imphal East turned into a battlefield yesterday after a large number of people vandalised and burnt vehicles and other infrastructure.

At least three followers of the Panthou Masiakon, including a minor girl, sustained injuries in the mob action. The officer in charge of Imphal East, Shanti Kumar Singh, also sustained an injury after a stone hit his chest.

Following the incident, district administration has clamped indefinite curfew under section 144 of CrPC at Wangkhei Wangkheimayum Leirak, Wangkhei Pukhrambam Leirak, Wangkhei Ayangpali road and Wangkhei Imphal Yairipok road from around 11 a.m. Yesterday.

According to report, members of the Child Welfare Committee Imphal East, Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, District Child Protection Unit, Social Welfare Dept and Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights along with parents and guardians of the children kept inside the Panthou Masiakon complex came to collect the children.

The committee of the Panthou Masiakon reportedly took around 30 minutes in handing over the children to the CWC, resulting a brief confrontation between the local volunteers associating the government officials and the committee members of Panthou.

Following that, the locals of the area turn violent and gathered in large number and started vandalising properties inside the complex. 16 children out of 33 wererescued and handed over to their parents.

Soon after the government committee members left the place the locals started pelting stones inside the complex and attack by vandalising and burning vehicles and other infrastructures inside the complex.

Around 13 vehicles including cars, auto-rickshaw were set ablaze abd around 10 vehicles including 8 two wheelers were destroyed. The main auditorium of the Panthou Masaikon complex was also set ablaze by the mob.

Fire tender rushed to the spot were prevented at first by the locals of the area but later forced inside along with additional team of Imphal East Police. The Fire service extinguished the fire from causing more damage inside the complex.

Even after the intervention of the police the local continued to remain hostile prompting the police to fire rounds of gun shot in the air. The police also fired several tear gas shells to disperse the mob.