Army continue to flag march in violence hit Manipur districts

way2barak, May 4 : The Army and the Assam Rifles continue to conducting flag marches in violence hit Manipur districts on Thursday while additional soldiers airlifted to the northeastern state, where situation turned volatile as thousands of tribals on Wednesday turned up for the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

A defence spokesman said that Army and Assam Rifles conducting flag march and aerial reconnaissance in areas of Khuga, Tampa, Khomaujanbba areas of Churachandpur district, Mantripukhri, Lamphel, Koeirangi area of Imphal West District and Sugnu in Kakching districts.

“Total 55 columns of Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed for restoration of law and order so far. Additional 14 columns were also kept on standby for deployment on short notice,” the Defence PRO told IANS.

He said that around 10,000 villagers of different communities were given shelter in Army and Assam Rifles camps in different districts.

In the wake of the violence in Manipur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Thursday during which they discussed the current situation in the state.

According to official sources, the Union Minister took stock of the law and order situation during the phone call.

In an appeal to the people of Manipur, Biren Singh in a video message appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm and cooperate with the state government.

“Wednesday’s incidents took place due to misunderstanding between the communities. The government will settle the genuine demands and grievances after talking with all the communities and leaders,” Singh said in a video message.

He said that Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga also spoke with him and discussed the protection of the tribals in Manipur.

Rumour of unconfirmed deaths of several people are being spread creating problems for the law enforcing agencies.

However, the details of the deaths, if any, were not yet confirmed by the authorities.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and India’s global sporting icons, six-time world champion boxer MC Mary Kom also in a video message urged the people to maintain ethnic harmony, peace and calm.

The situation in Manipur turned volatile as thousands of tribals on Wednesday turned up for the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in all the 10 hill districts to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

Acting on a writ petition filed by the Meetei (Meitei) Trade Union, Manipur High Court on April 19 had directed the state government to consider the case of the petitioners for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list expeditiously.

Tribals constitute about 40 per cent of the state’s around three million population.

Clashes, attacks counter attacks among different communities and arsoning of houses and shops took place in different districts forcing authorities to suspend mobile internet services for five days, while a night curfew was also imposed in several tension-ridden mountainous districts, including Imphal West, Bishnupur, Jiribam, Tenugopal and Churachandpur.

The state government on Wednesday night requisitioned the Army and Assam Rifles to control the ethnic violence in at least six districts.

“The columns of Army and Assam Rifles along with state police intervened to control the situation on Wednesday night. The violence was controlled by Thursday morning. Flag marches are being conducted to maintain the situation under control,” the defence spokesman told on Thursday.

“Shifting of villagers to safer areas away from violence hit locations is under progress. Indian Army and Assam Rifles undertook major rescue operations to evacuate the civilians of all communities relentlessly throughout the night to restore law and order in Manipur. Indian Army remains committed to the well being and safety of the population of Manipur,” a defence statement said.

Police said that there were sporadic incidents of clashes, attacks and arsoning took place in several districts and tension prevailed in the few hill districts after the Wednesday’s ATSUM-backed rallies.

Tension prevailed in Churachandpur, Senapati, Chandel, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, where shutting down of markets and suspension of public transport forced the authorities to impose a curfew.

The valley is dominated by Meitei and they are seeking the ST category status, alleging infiltration from Bangladesh and Myanmar, destroying the demographic pattern in the state.

“Whereas, it is considered that movement of any person outside their residences is likely to cause a breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and properties,” a government order issued on Wednesday night said.

The order suspending the mobile internet services said : “Some anti-social elements are using social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public. The social media has also become a handy tool for rumour mongers and is being used to incite the general public, which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in Manipur.”

Protesting against the state government’s action to evict tribals from the forest lands and destruction of illegal poppy cultivation in the reserve and protected forests, the tribals had on March 10 organised protest rallies in three districts — Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, during which five people were injured.

Fresh incidents of violence, including arsoning and vandalisation of government properties, were triggered on April 27 in Churachandpur district after the tribals launched fresh protests against the state government’s action against illegal poppy cultivation by destroying poppy fields in the forest land, especially in the reserve and protected forests in the hilly areas.

The Chief Minister had claimed on Tuesday that Myanmar immigrants are responsible for deforestation, poppy cultivation, and drug menace in the state.

In a series of social media posts, the Chief Minister said the state government will continue to give utmost priority to the protection of Manipur and its entire indigenous people.

The hill districts which account for much of the state’s land are inhabited mostly by tribals — including the Nagas and Kukis who are mainly Christians.