Unidentified miscreants set ablaze the Forest Department building in Manipur's violence-hit Churachandpur district, while a night curfew has been imposed in the district from Saturday. The officers provided this information. He said that a group of people set fire to the office building of Range Forest Officer in Tuibong area in the middle of the night, which was extinguished by several fire engines.

A police officer said that public property worth lakhs of rupees was allegedly destroyed in the fire and several official documents were burnt. According to an official notification, night curfew will remain in force in the district from 5 pm to 5 am from Saturday till further orders. Officials said that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) have been imposed in the district and mobile internet services will also remain closed.

The police officer said, “The situation is still serious. Security has been beefed up at all major intersections and major areas of the city to prevent any untoward incident. Security forces resorted to lathicharge and used tear gas and rubber bullets.

Locals had claimed that some people were killed and some injured in the police action following the bandh called by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) till 4 pm. However, no official confirmation has been made regarding this. Police said that there was a clash between the protesters and the police at Sadbhavna Mandap in New Lamka area of Churachandpur district on Friday. He told that where these incidents took place, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh (CM Biren Singh) was to address a public meeting, but in view of the demonstrations and the bandh call, he had postponed his plan to go to Churachandpur.

An eight-hour bandh called by local tribals to protest against the eviction of Kuki villagers from protected forest areas severely affected life here. Singh, however, called off the tour due to protests and bandh calls. On Thursday, the protesters attacked the venue where the Chief Minister was to come. The protesters had set fire to around 100 chairs and other equipment at the venue.