Imphal, Sept. 27: After a brief lull, violence erupted yesterday in trouble-torn Churachandpur town with a mob of women burning the private residence of a rebel leader located in the town.
The mob attacked the house of Zomi Revolutionary Organisation (ZRO) president Thanglianpau Guite, who is also the general secretary of the United Peoples Front. The three-storied building located in the town, 62km south of Imphal, was gutted.
Five vehicles parked on the compound of the house were also damaged.
After yesterday's violence, people held prayer meetings at the town churches from 10am to 5pm today.
Trouble erupted in the town hours after the state Assembly passed Protection of Manipur People Bill, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill on August 31. Nine protesters died in three days of violent protests against the bills, which citizens' organisations in Churachandpur district termed "anti-tribal".
Normality is yet to return to the town as the agitation spearheaded by a public joint action committee continued in the form of sit-ins and closure of shops for a few hours every day demanding a separate administration for the five hill districts.
Home ministry's special secretary (internal security) Ashok Prasad on Tuesday took stock of the situation in the town.
Yesterday's mob attack came hours after United Peoples Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), two umbrella organisations of more than 20 Kuki militant groups having suspension of operation agreement with the Centre and state government since 2005, held a joint meeting in the town yesterday.
It is not clear why the women of the town attacked the rebel leader's house.
Unofficial sources claimed the women were unhappy with the rebel groups for not putting enough pressure on the tribal MLAs elected from the five hill districts to resign.
Four Naga Peoples Front MLAs resigned in the wake of the passing of the three bills. Tribal organisations have been demanding that the remaining 16 MLAs elected from the hills should also resign by September 30.
On the night of August 31, protesters set on fire houses of six tribal MLAs located in Churachandpur town.
After today's prayer programmes, which were held at all the churches of the town, the joint action committee imposed a general strike from 5pm today till 5am tomorrow.
Village chiefs of Churachandpur district will take out a rally against the three bills and in support of the demand for a separate administration tomorrow.
The town residents will observe another general strike from 1pm to 7pm tomorrow. Reports said leaders of the UPF and KNO yesterday resolved to jointly push for a separate state for the hills.
The political dialogue between the Centre and the rebel groups is yet to commence. Cadres of the groups are now staying at more than 10 designated camps across the state.
