The Manipur government has stepped up its crackdown on the leaders of Apunba Lup, the apex body of 32 organisations leading the month-long agitation in the state, arresting 17 of them after raiding different localities in greater Imphal area on Wednesday.

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Among the arrested was the 75-year-old Thockchom Ramani, the woman who led the nude protest against the continuation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act on July 15.

Meanwhile, the deadlock between the government and the family members of Pebam Chittaranjan about taking his body to Bishenpur continues.

Chittaranjan died on Monday after self-immolation at Bishenpur town on August 15. His family wanted the body to be taken to the district town and then bring it back to Imphal for cremation, but the government has refused to grant permission fearing public backlash during the journey.

If the family does not take possession of the body, currently lying in the morgue at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, the government is likely to cremate the body on Wednesday night after the night curfew begins at 7 pm.

Meanwhile, clashes between protestors and security forces continued throughout the day in different parts of Imphal.

In another development, the five Assam Rifles personnel, summoned by the C Upendra Judicial Commission inquiring into the killing of Th. Manorama, failed to appear before the commission for a third time.

Sources said the Assam Rifles is planning to move the Gauhati high court seeking direction asking the commission to allow in camera testimony of the jawans.

The Assam Rifles has refused to produce the five personnel on the grounds that the militants are targeting them and that there is every possibility that they might be killed.