Six injured as protesting Manipur tribals baton charged

At least six people were injured as police carried out a baton charge on Manipuri, protesting the three controversial bills passed by the state assembly and sent for the president's assent, outside the Manipur Bhavan here on Tuesday, protesters said.

Ptesters, mostly comprising college students and young professionals from various tribes, had gathered outside the Manipur Bhawan in the evening. However, the protest turned violent after they were confronted by the Delhi Police sought to disperse them.

According to the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi(MTAD), at least six of the students were seriously injured and were taken to a hospital.

"At least six of the protesters were seriously injured and they have been taken to the nearby Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. Many of them have been taken to the Chanakya Puri police station," MTAD convenor Romeo Hmar told IANS, adding these include MTAD co-convenor and former Naga Student Union, Delhi, president J. Maivio.

Hmar also said they attacked and damaged police vehicles during the protest

Senior Delhi Police officials could not be contacted, however, despite repeated attempts.

The protest came even as an all-party delegation from Manipur, led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, which had come here to discuss the delay in assent to the bills, was told the bills had been rejected.

It was decided that legal and constitutional experts are to re-examine the three Manipur anti-migrant bills and come up with new legislation.

MTAD however argued that the delegation was not complete as it did not have the support of the Naga People's Front(NPF), a major political party in the northeastern state.

Since last year Manipur has been experiencing various forms of agitations in connection with the bills.

--IANS

rup/vd