Starting 2025 in Manipur: Fierce clashes
Featured image: masses confront the Indian repressive forces in Kangpokpi. Source: The Free Press Journal
Newly clashes have erupted in Manipur, most of them concentrated in the district of Kangpokpi. This district is the area of the Hills, where most of the population are indigenous peasants belonging to the Kuki people.
Since the beginning of the year the local people have been protesting against the repressive deployment by the old Indian State in the area, as well as against the occupation of local areas by paramilitaries and police in the village of Saibol. More than 50 indigenous peasant women were injured by the repressive forces when they were peacefully protesting. Few minutes after the beginning of the protest, the Indian police assaulted by using their rifles, baton-charged and tear-gassed the protesting women. One of them was injured by a rubber bullet in the left eye. Local indigenous organizations protested and called for a blockade of a National Highway. This brutal repression came on the same day that the Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh apologized “for the violence that has engulfed Manipur since May last year”, showing how big is the hypocrisy of the representatives of the ruling classes. While he was asking forgiveness, he directed the police and paramilitaries to beat up a peaceful protest.
Source: The Print India
After these facts the Indian paramilitaries and the police stated that everything was “under control”. But soon this was proved a blatant lie. After the strike called by the local organizations, protests erupted. A protest rally tried to stop the Indian repressive forces on its way. The demonstrators also moved to the deputy commissioner’s office and threw stones at the building. Again the repressive forces displayed their brutality on the protest, leaving several demonstrators injured. But this did not prevented the masses to continue their protest, actually that sparked their anger. The clashes became fiercer, the protesters threw stones and petrol bombs. Several police officers were injured and several vehicles were damaged.
The superintendent of police was among the injured during the clashes.
On January 4 the police heads once more stated: “Situation is now under control”. But even bureaucratic-big landlord press from India entitle now its articles on Manipur: “Bad Start to 2025”. Even tough the old Indian State pretends that the situation is calmed and that nothing happens, it is obvious that 2025 will bring renewed troubles for the ruling classes in India.
