Protesters Clash With Security Forces As Re-Arrested Volunteer Sparks Tensions in Imphal West

Fresh clashes erupted between security forces and protesters in certain areas of Imphal West on Friday night following the re-arrest of one of the five defense volunteers who had been granted bail by a special court, according to officials.

While there is no official confirmation regarding the status of the re-arrested individual, Moirangthem Anand, a former member of the banned People's Liberation Army, has been taken back into custody, as reported by officials, PTI reported.

Anand's wife, who expressed her distress in front of the Imphal police station, stated, "I have been informed by the police that my husband has been arrested in connection with a previous case that is more than 10 years old."

One of the released village defense force volunteers, identified as L Michael, informed reporters, "Although four of us were released from the lock-up, Anand was taken away by a few officials. That was the last time we saw him."

Meanwhile, security forces, including RAF personnel, resorted to firing several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse protesters at Kwakeithel stretch, Singjamei, and Uripok in the Imphal West district. Protesters, in an act of defiance against the government and police, set tires ablaze in the middle of the road.

On Friday, a special court in Imphal had granted bail to the five youths upon them furnishing a PR bond of Rs 50,000 each. It is worth noting that Anand had been apprehended along with four others on September 16 at Kongba in Imphal East district, with police recovering one INSAS rifle and 78 rounds of ammunition from him.

The state had experienced widespread clashes between security forces and protesters the previous day when demonstrators attempted to storm police stations as part of a "court arrest agitation," demanding the unconditional release of the five village defense volunteers.