Mob vandalises, set on fire Manipur CM’s event venue

Clashes erupted between demonstrators and police at Sadbhavna Mandap in Manipur’s New Lamka Town in Churachandpur district on Friday, the venue where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to address a public meeting.
Singh had earlier in the day indicated his plans to visit Churachandpur had been deferred at the request of the organisers following protests and a 8-hour bandh called by local tribals protesting eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest areas. Officials said that police were forced to lob tear gas shells to disperse a large crowd which had gathered and was pelting stones at security forces deployed to keep the peace in the bandh hit town.
“There were no injuries despite the stone pelting. Deployment of forces will continue to oversee the situation,” officials said. The chief minister was scheduled to address a public meeting at Sadbhavna Mandap and inaugurate an open gym at PT Sports complex, both in New Lamka town.
However, on Thursday a protesting mob had attacked the venue and set fire to about a 100 chairs and other equipment.
Singh said his plans to visit Churachandpur district have been deferred after the local legislator who had invited him decided to postpone the function.
“The local MLA had invited me to a celebration and to inaugurate the open gym,” the CM told reporters on the sidelines of an agriculture department function here.
“LM Khaute, MLA from Churachandpur constituency has requested me not to come now and said the open gym will be repaired soon,” Singh said.