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Sunday, Aug 08, 2004

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Police open fire in Manipur

IMPHAL, AUG. 7. The situation in Manipur worsened today with hundreds of agitators, attempting to court mass arrest to press for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state, clashing with police at several places.

For the first time in the three-week-long agitation, police opened fire on the agitators in Imphal East and West districts injuring three persons, official sources said.

Police, which had been using rubber bullets, tear gas and smoke bombs since the beginning of the agitation, opened fire when the agitators surged ahead to court mass arrest at Lamlai, about 25 north east of here, and at Wangoi, 15 km south east of here during curfew relaxation, they said.

Eleven-year-old Saikhom Robinson was injured in the firing at Lamlai, while Sapam Ibohal (24) and Laishram Suresh (27) were injured at Wangoi, the sources said.

Elsewhere in the state, police fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets and used smoke bombs injuring 27 people after lathicharges failed to disperse the protestors, they said.

Police-protestor clashes were reported from many places including interior Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Mayang Imphal, Wangoi, Moirang, Nambol, Bishenpur, Thoubal, Yaiskul, Wangkhei, Khurai, Tera, Kongba, Kwakeithel, Uripok, Thangmeiband and Sagolband in Imphal and Greater Imphal areas.

The agitators have threatened to close all state and central government offices from Monday if their demand was not met, the sources said.

— PTI

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