Protest outside Manipur Bhavan in New Delhi, 25 injured

New Delhi: At least 25 persons, including police officials, sustained injuries on Tuesday in a clash between the police and a group of protesters who held a demonstration outside Manipur Bhawan here against the three controversial bills passed by the north-east state Assembly.

The police lathi-charged the protesters comprising mostly tribal student union members and young professionals. A police van was also damaged in the clash outside Manipur Bhawan in Sardar Patel Marg this evening.

"Our protest was against the three controversial bills passed by the state assembly in Manipur. It was a peaceful protest until we were attacked by the police. Around 20-30 protesters are injured and admitted in different hospitals," Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi's Co-convener, J Maivio said.

 

Police said that they had to resort to lathi-charge after the protesters tried to break police barricades set up around Manipur Bhawan.

The police also called for reinforcement, following which personnel from all police stations in Chanakyapuri and nearby sub-divisions in New Delhi district were rushed to the spot. When they failed to bring the situation under control, water cannons were used to disperse the crowd.

Several protesters and police personnel sustained injuries as scuffle broke out between them. According to a source, a police official was also attacked with a sharp-edged object in the melee.

A police jeep was also damaged in the violence, following which several protesters were detained. All injured persons were taken to hospital, a police official said.

Earlier in the day, an all-party delegation from Manipur, led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him about the need for presidential assent to convert three Inner Line Permit (ILP) System-related bills into acts.

The delegation conveyed to the Home Minister the necessity of getting presidential assent to the three bills which were opposed by tribal groups of the state, particularly Nagas and Kukis who mainly inhabit the hill districts of Manipur.

The three bills were passed in August last year after months of mass movement to protect the indigenous populace from the "illegal" immigrants in the state, including those from neighbouring Myanmar.

Acceding to the demand of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System, the Congress government in Manipur had last year passed three bills to protect the indigenous people inhabiting the valley districts of the state.

They were: The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.