Tension mounted in Imphal, capital of Manipur, on Thursday morning after news about the cremation of Pebam Chittaranjan, the 32-year old who committed self-immolation on August 15, spread through the town.

Violence broke out at Takhel Leikai in Imphal after the news arrived. The deceased student leader lived with his parents in the locality.

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Once the news about administration's plan to cremate the body during the curfew hours last night spread, a large number of youths and women came out and made an attempt to march towards the crematorium. The police and para military personnel, who were deployed around the locality, stopped them and a clash followed.
 
The police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets at the mob.

Chittaranjan's mortal remains were consigned to flames by the Imphal Municipal Council late on Wednesday night, after his family refused to take the body from the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

A huge contingent of security forces was deployed in and around the crematorium.
 
The cremation was ordered by the deputy commissioner of Imphal west, in the wake of the impasse with the family over claiming the body. The family wanted the body to be taken to Bishenpur and then bring it back to the capital for cremation. The administration was against the idea since it felt the protests would spill over if Chittaranjan's body was allowed to be taken in a procession.

Chittaranjan, a leader of the Manipur Students Federation, had set himself ablaze at Bishenpur Bazar on August 15 last, protesting the alleged atrocities committed by the security forces on the innocent people of Manipur and the continuation of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the state.

Meanwhile Bishenpur town, where Chittaranjan self-immolated on Sunday, remains under indefinite curfew.