Manipur Violence – Attacks on residences of Minister-MLA, protesters adamant on march to CM residence… Tension again in Manipur – Manipur Violence Protest in Imphal Curfew Imposed Internet Service Suspended in Seven Districts ntc

The Manipur government, in a letter to the Home Ministry on Saturday, requested to remove the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958, under the jurisdiction of six police stations in the state. This decision came after the state cabinet meeting held on Friday. The Cabinet requested the Central Government to reconsider and cancel its decision to re-impose AFSPA from the areas under the jurisdiction of Semkai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Limakhong and Morang police stations.

A few days after the latest violence in Jiribam, on November 14, the Union Home Ministry had announced the re-imposition of AFSPA in these areas. Caste violence started in Manipur from May 3, 2023, which is not showing any signs of stopping. On November 12, armed militants attacked Borobekra police station in Jiribam district. There is a CRPF camp in this police station and a relief camp is also set up nearby. In retaliation, CRPF killed 11 militants. A CRPF jawan was also shot.

Also read: Internet shut down in 7 districts of Manipur, curfew in two districts… Government alert after 6 dead bodies found in Jiribam

After the encounter between militants and security forces, 6 people were kidnapped from Borobreka relief camp. Two days later, three bodies were recovered near the confluence of Jiri River and Barak River on the Manipur-Assam border. In protest against this kidnapping and murder, protesters gathered at Keeshampat Junction in the capital Imphal on Saturday evening and raised slogans against the Biren Singh government. People also protested in front of BJP headquarters. The protesters wanted to march to the CM residence and meet Biren Singh. Their demand is that the culprits who kidnapped 6 people from the relief camp should be arrested within 24 hours.

Attack on houses of ministers and MLAs

To disperse the crowd, the police had to lathicharge and release tear gas. Sporadic protests also took place in other parts of the state. Protesters on Saturday targeted the residences of three Manipur ministers and six MLAs, following which the government had to impose curfew in Imphal Valley. Keeping in mind the tense situation, Manipur government has suspended internet service in 6 districts. Police officials suspect that the bodies recovered are those of the six people kidnapped from Jiribam district. Imphal Valley-based civil society organizations have alleged that the militants had abducted six people from the relief camp while retreating after their attack on Borobekra police station was foiled by security forces.

Also read: Manipur: NIA will investigate 3 big cases, including encounters with militants and kidnapping cases

The angry mob vandalized the houses of three of the six MLAs and set their properties on fire. Security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters in different parts of Imphal. Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Imphal Valley East and West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching districts due to deteriorating law and order situation. Internet services have been temporarily suspended in seven districts. A mob attacked the residence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan Lamphel Sanakeithel in Imphal West district.

Police said the protesters also stormed the residence of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister L Susindero Singh in Khurai area of ​​Imphal East district. The mob also tried to storm the residence of Susindro Singh, after which the security forces had to fire several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse them. The residence of Municipal Administration Housing Development Minister Y Khemchand in Singjamei area of ​​Imphal West district was also targeted by the protesters.

History of AFSPA in Manipur

Manipur has been declared a disturbed area under AFSPA since 1980. In early 2004, AFSPA was withdrawn from parts of Imphal following fierce protests by local people following the murder of 32-year-old Thangjam Manorama. From the year 2022 onwards, AFSPA was gradually removed from some more districts. In April 2022, AFSPA was removed from 15 police stations in six districts. With its removal from another four police stations on April 1, 2023, AFSPA was removed from the jurisdiction of a total of 19 police stations. All these areas belonged to the Meitei dominated Imphal Valley.

Also read: Manipur: Of the 6 Meitei people who were kidnapped, bodies of three were found floating in the river.

Announcing the decision to remove AFSPA from the jurisdiction of four more police stations on March 25, 2023, the Union Home Ministry had said in a statement, ‘Due to the tireless efforts of the Modi government, there has been a significant improvement in the security situation in Manipur. Because the decision has been taken to remove AFSPA from the areas declared disturbed earlier. A little more than a month after this decision, on 3 May 2023, caste conflict started in the state. It’s been 18 months now, but instead of subsiding, the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Jo communities is escalating.

How did the violence start in Manipur?

The violence in Manipur began on May 3 last year, when arson and vandalism were carried out during a demonstration by the Kuki-Jo tribal community against an order of the Manipur High Court. In fact, the Meitei community had filed a petition in the Manipur High Court demanding that they be given tribe status. The Meitei community argued that Manipur had merged with India in 1949. Before that they had the status of tribe. After completion of hearing on the petition, Manipur High Court recommended to the state government that consideration should be given to including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST).

Kuki-Jo community is against giving tribal status to Meitei. They say that 40 out of 60 assembly seats in the state are already in the Meitei dominated Imphal Valley. In such a situation, if Meitei gets the status of tribe, the share of Kuki-Jo community in reservation will reduce. The majority of the Meitei population lives in the Imphal Valley and the plains of Manipur, while the majority of the Kuki-Jo community lives in the hilly areas. Meiteis are Hindus, while Kukis follow Christianity.

Also read: The case of kidnapping of six people from Manipur is gaining momentum, Meitei women leaders appealed for immediate action.

The period of violence between these two communities in Manipur has been going on for one and a half years. During this period, 237 deaths have occurred and more than 1500 people have been injured. At the same time, 60 thousand people are forced to leave their homes and live in relief camps. In the last one and a half year, about 11 thousand FIRs have been registered in Manipur and 500 arrests have been made. Manipur state is divided into hilly and plain parts. Meiteis live in the plain districts and Kukis live in the hill districts. There is such enmity going on between the two communities that if a Meitei from the plains comes to the hilly area and a Kuki from the hilly area comes to the plains, then it may not be possible for him to go back alive.