The Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh announced on Wednesday that troopers and police commandos have been rushed to Tamenglong district in the State to arrest the militants of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) NSCN(IM), for beating up some All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) members and singers.
A report published in the Business Standard quoted the Manipur CM Biren as saying, “The NSCN (IM) militants had used communally inflammatory words. We have rushed police commandos and personnel of 57 Mountain Brigade to nab the accused persons. Such anti-social activities shall never be condoned.”
The report further stated that the incident took place near Nungba in Tamenglong district of Manipur along the National Highway (NH-37) when some members of the students’ union and singers were returning to Imphal after attending a function in Assam on Monday night.
“The four persons, who identified themselves as cadres of NSCN-IM, intercepted the bus in which the students and singers were travelling and extorted Rs 500 each from the members, assaulted general secretary S Anil and manhandled few women,” the AMSU president Manjit Sarangthem said.
“The insurgents told the students that they cannot pass through the Naga areas with the Manipuri flag fluttering. This triggered a heated exchange of words between the two groups. Later, the students and singers were beaten up,” he said.