Woman dies in Manipur protest

A woman has died and many others have been injured in Manipur in north-east India after police fired teargas to break up a massive demonstration.

Thousands of women marched through the streets of the state capital, Imphal, on Thursday night in protest against a recent ceasefire deal between the Indian Government and separatist Naga rebels.

Hundreds of women... came out on the streets carrying flaming bamboo torches

Manipur police chief AS Siddiqui

Manipur has been rocked by violence ever since the truce was announced last month between Delhi and the rebel Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) which, Manipuris fear, could lead to a break up of their state.

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The latest violence came as a team led by India's junior home minister, ID Swamy, arrived in Imphal to assess the situation

"Hundreds of women representing a local vigilante group, the Meira Paibi (Women's Power) came out on the streets carrying flaming bamboo torches," Manipur police chief AS Siddiqui told the Associated Press.

"Security forces on duty had to fire teargas shells to prevent the protesters from entering the governor's house," he said.

The Meira Paibis say that the elderly woman died because she was hit by police, but the authorities say that she was suffering from a heart ailment and collapsed during scuffles.

A leading student union in the state has now called a 24-hour strike against the police action.

Ceasefire fears

Last month, the Indian Government extended a ceasefire with the NSCN to cover areas outside the state of Nagaland where the rebel group has a presence.

Many people in the states of Manipur and Assam - which border Nagaland - believe this could lead to the creation of a new, greater state of Nagaland carved out of their territories.

Delhi has extended a ceasefire with Naga rebels

An indefinite curfew was imposed in Imphal and other major districts following clashes last month between police and demonstrators protesting the ceasefire.

The Indian Government has said that the agreement with the NSCN would not lead to any territorial changes.

NSCN chief, Thuingaleng Muivah, told the BBC's Asia Today television programme in Bangkok that his fighters would head back to the jungle if Delhi reneged on the ceasefire.

He said that all Nagas held on to the dream of reintegrating all the Naga territories in India and Burma.

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