Imphal, August 04 2009: Sounds of police firing tear gas shells, rubber bullets and stun bombs, besides war-cries of both police and prostestors filled the sky in both Imphal districts and areas of Bishnupur as the protest agitations on the second day of the 48-hour statewide general strike escalated in different parts of the state.

As the protest agitations threatened to engulf the entire valley districts in flames, reminiscent of June 18 and post June 18 agitations of 2001, the district administrations of Imphal East and Imphal West districts have imposed blanket curfew indefinitely in the whole of greater Imphal areas including Imphal Municipal areas within Imphal West district and Imphal East district.

Orders issued separately by the District Magistrates of both Imphal East and West districts tonight said that under sub-section (2) of Section 144, Cr PC 1973, movement of any persons outside their respective residences has been prohibited with effect from 10 pm of today, i.e.August 4 until further orders.

However, the orders shall not applied to government agencies involved in the enforcement of law and order and other essential services.

In case of emergencies and for those who want to take out procession for marriage, funeral, etc.

permission must be obtained from either the District Magistrate or SP concerned.

Without obtaining written permission, no procession will be allowed, the orders said.

In the meantime, the DGP, Manipur today convened a high level security meeting and discussed the prevailing situation with reference to tightening security measures in the important places which are likely to be attacked by the agitators.

Burning of effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi, DGP Y Joykumar and police commandos, shouting of slogans accusing the Chief Minister as the leader of the state sponsored terrorism and police commandos as terrorists marked the protests which were held amidst police personnel firing tear gas shells, rubber bullets and stun bombs to quell the ever swelling protest agitation.

More than 20 protestors including several women were wounded in the police action at many places in Imphal East and West districts.

The protest, which till yesterday was mostly concentrated at Khurai and Lamshang areas, have now escalated to other parts of the four valley districts of the state today.

Hundreds of people took to the streets at the main road at many places and blocked the roads extending support to the 48-hour general strike imposed by the Working Committee of Apunba Lup and solidarity to the ongoing protest launched by the residents of Khurai area under the banner of the JAC against the killing of Ch Sanjit allegedly in fake encounter.

Police has a hard time in dispersing the agitating people who retaliated to the police firing tear gas and other mod ammunitions with slingshots and stones.

The sky rocked by the firing sounds of the tear gas and other mob ammunitions which could hard the whole day.

Protestors retaliating to the police with slingshots and stones continued today also at various places other then Khurai area.

In both Imphal east and west districts even though heavy patrolling by the police and security forces seen, protestors took to the streets and blocked road by stretching women inner garments and clothing to prevent movement of traffic on the road.

As many as 10 protestors injured by rubber bullets and mob ammunitions when police dispersed protestors at Khurai area, the epicenter of the protest in Imphal east and in Lamshang area where the young pregnant housewife killed in the firing hailed from.

Three youths sustained rubber bullet injury at Khurai area where protestors hang effigies of chief minister, O Ibobi Singh and state DGP with rope and shouted they should be hang to dead.

Some other youths also received minor injuries in the police action.

Police also rounded up four youths taking part in the protest who were taking part in burning the effigies.

The totally closed stretch of the Tinsid road from Lamlong Bazar to Top Khwa Bazar by erecting bunger like blockers is yet to open by the police on the third day.

The road has been blocking from August 2 .

More than four protestors including a young girl sustained injury when police fired towards the protestors blocking the Imphal-Kangchup road at Lamshang area.

One woman felt down into a road ditch.

In the area from early hour of today people turned out on the streets and blocked the road by piling woods, branches of trees and burning debris and tyres on the road.

They also burnt down effigies of chief minister, DGP and police commandos at various places on the road.

In some places, young women blocking the road exposed their body with only inner wears when police tried to disperse them, a situation which police and even reporters feel reluctant to enter.

In the effort police able to opened the road upto Toadong area even though protestors attempted to block the road by planting nails on the roads.

But they faced hard to evict the protestors beyond Toudong Lamkhai to reach Lamshang where hundreds of protestors blocked the road.

Protestors at Toudong Lamkhai turned the police and village defense force personnel by attacking with stones.

Women protestors also threw phaneks and other women garments toward them even as police fired tear gas and smoke bombs toward the protestors.

Protestors burning effigies of chief minister, DGP and police commandos also clashed with the police at Salam, Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak, Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai.

In the police action at Thangmeiband area six persons suffered injuries.

They were RK Landoni of Thangmeiband Polem Leikai, Ngangbam Sundari of Kabrangbam Leikai, ng Tondon of Hijam Dewan Leikai.

B Shanti, , Wahengbam Nanao and Kabrangbam Loken.

Among the injured people, the condition of Loken is said to be serious as he received injury at the eye.

Five other protestor fainted by the smell of the tear gas that fired toward them by the police.

A boy who was staying at home at Khurai Soibam Leikai sustained injury when a tear gas shell fired by the police fell inside the house after causing damage to the roof.

He has been hospitalized.

Family and locals strongly condemned the act of the police.

In many places in Bishnupur district, rally planned by people at Kumbi, Moirang, Bishnupur and Nambol areas were foiled by the police before the rallies kicked off.

Police fire tear gas and mob ammunitions in dispersing the people coming out for participating in the rally.

Womenfolk from surrounding areas turned out to carry out a protest rally at Nambol Bazar today at around 4 pm with the slogans "resign chief minister, O Ibobi, hang the killer police commandos to death, etc." Police dispersed them before the rally kicked start by firing gear gas.

In Kumbi Bazar also womenfolk of Lamhangdong, Kumbi Mayai Leikai, Kumbi Terakhong, Yangol Sabal Leikai under the banner of the Kumbi Apunba Meira Paibi Lup was foiled by the police.

At Andro, volunteers of the All Andro Meira Paibi Association and Eastern Scheduled Caste Students Union burnt down effigies of the chief minister, O Ibobi, DGP Joykumar and police commando personnel.

Strikers also shattered windshields of a van (MN-7K-4754) belonging to one Athokpam Mera of Nonpok Heirok.

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