Violence hit Manipur limping back to normalcy, curfew relax in 4 districts

way2barak, May 10 : Strife torn Manipur very slowly limping back to normalcy even as the Army and central para-military forces continued their vigil in the sensitive and vulnerable areas while the authorities relaxed the curfew in four districts including most volatile Churachandpur district for four hours on Tuesday morning.

Mobile internet was suspended on May 3 and it would continue till May 13.

Relaxation in curfew has been extended in violence ravaged districts of Manipur for the 4th day on Tuesday, citing an improved situation with the deployment of Army and central forces along with state forces in all vulnerable, sensitive and mixed populated areas.

On the advice of the state authority, the district administrations relaxed the curfew in four districts — Imphal West, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Churachandpur for four hours on Tuesday to enable the people to procure essentials.

A senior official said that subsequent relaxations of the curfew shall be reviewed and notified based on assessment of the prevailing law and order situation.

Deployment of Army, central para-military force was done, mobile internet was suspended and the total public curfew under section 144 CrPC, 1973, prohibiting movement of any person outside their respective residences, was imposed in several districts since the outbreak of communal violence and arson at several places of the state on May 3.

The widespread violent clashes, attacks and arson broke out across Manipur during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ on May 3 called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the ST category.

The ATSUM had called the rally in ten hill districts, inhabited by the tribals, to oppose the recent Manipur High Court order, which had asked the state government to send a recommendation to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry regarding the demand to include the majority and predominantly Hindu Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (STs) list.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who constantly monitored the Manipur situation since last week, has said the situation in Manipur was under control though curfew remained in force in the violence-hit northeastern state.

The Manipur government would consult all stakeholders before taking a decision on the matter of Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community, Shah told a television channel and appealed to the people to maintain peace.

He said that the court (Manipur High Court) has passed an order and it would be discussed with all concerned stakeholders, and the Manipur government would take appropriate decisions after discussions.

There is no need for any individual or group to be fearful as the government is serious about dealing with the situation effectively.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday evening said that at least 60 people, including women, have been killed and 231 people injured while 1,700 houses have been burned down in the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3.

He announced that a high-level inquiry would be conducted to fix responsibility on persons and groups who instigated the violence and government servants who didn’t meet their responsibilities.

So far 35,655 persons, hit by the violence, including 1,593 students, have been moved to safer locations, Singh told the media.

Around 10,000 people remain stranded.

Singh thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for monitoring the situation from the first day of the incident and provided 50 companies of Central forces and 105 columns of Army and Assam Rifles to deal with the violence.

He said that the miscreants and the agitators snatched 1,041 arms and 7,460 pieces of ammunition from the security forces and so far, 214 arms and 4,273 pieces of ammunition were recovered.

The Chief Minister has announced Rs five lakh as compensation to the next of kin to the deceased, Rs two lakh for grievous injuries and Rs 25, 000 for non-grievous injuries, while appealing for peace.

In view of the prevailing unrest in Manipur, the Central government has already imposed Article 355 in the state to bring the situation under control.

Article 355 is part of emergency provisions contained in the Constitution that empowers the Centre to take all necessary steps to protect a state against internal disturbances or external aggression.