Imphal: Four persons, including a 12-year old boy, were injured in police action and an office was set afire by protestors in Manipur today (Aug 19, 2004) as violence spread in the State after the cremation of the body of student leader Pebam Chitaranjan by the Government.

The police burst tear gas shells, fired rubber bullets and used smoke gun at Sagolband, Kwakeithel, Takhel Leikai, Heingang, Kongba and Singjamei areas to control agitators who were protesting the cremation of the body, official sources said.

Four persons identified as Pebam Tomba (52), W. Herojit (50), N. Rahul (12) and K. Birjit (20) were injured in the police action and taken to nearby hospitals, the sources said.

Tomba was the uncle of Chitaranjan who had set himself ablaze on Sunday (Aug 15) to press for the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur. The Government cremated the body last night after dismissing the demand of the agitators to take out a procession with the body.

Official sources said the agitators also set afire an office of Integrated Child Development Project (ICDP) at Porompat area, near Imphal, at 5 p m. Parts of the building and some office equipment were destroyed in the fire.

The protestors had damaged Imphal airport road, burnt vehicle tyres, erected road blockades and raised anti-Government slogans this morning to protest the Government decision to cremate the body.

Hours after the cremation of the body last night, agitators had set afire a portion of Lamlong bridge on the Imphal river.

Meanwhile, normal life continued to be affected due to the ongoing 'indefinite' bandh in the State.