After MLAs, mob targets insurgent leader

TSE | CCpur, Sep 26: Four weeks after violent protesters had burnt down the houses of six MLAs and an MP in the district, a multitude of womenfolk who are at the forefront of the public agitation today targeted the house of a rebel leader and burnt it down along with several vehicles.

Sources said a large number of womenfolk from different localities today afternoon assembled outside the residence of ZRO president Thanglianpau located at New Lamka and set his house as well as several vehicles parked inside the residential compound on fire.

The womenfolk, according to sources, reportedly had a brief chat at the gate with the rebel leader but the womenfolk soon forced their way inside, went berserk and set aflame several vehicles as well as the house.

What exactly transpired during the brief chat is not known, but it is said that the womenfolk were not happy that the tribal MLAs have still not tendered their resignation.

As the womenfolk who stood guard on all roads leading to the rebel leader's resi- dence prevented men from entering the area, some people were seen wrestling with the women to gain entry and it is still hard to ascertain the extent of damage and casualties, if any.

The ZRO president, it is learnt, attended a joint meeting of the KNO and UPF leaders today and later paid homage to the nine tribal martyrs at the district hospital morgue along with the president of KNO and their cabinet members before the mob launched an attack at his residence.

Notably, Churachandpur has been in a state of turmoil since the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the three Bills for protection of indigenous people of the land on August 31.

A large section of people has been contending that the Bills impinge upon tribal interests and they are anti-tribal by contents and spirit.