Protesters storm residences of 2 Manipur Ministers, 3 MLAs over killing of 3 persons; curfew clamped

SF directed to take necessary steps to restore order, peace in Manipur: MHA
IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 16: Protesters stormed the residences of 2 Ministers and 3 MLAs in Manipur’s Imphal on Saturday, demanding justice for the murder of 3 persons in Jiribam district, police said.

The mob attacks on legislators’ houses prompted the Imphal West administration to impose prohibitory orders in the district for an indefinite period.

According to an order issued by Imphal West District Magistrate Th Kirankumar, the curfew was imposed from 4.30 p.m. on Saturday.

A mob stormed the residence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan in Lamphel Sanakeithel area, a senior officer said.

Lamphel Sanakeithel Development Authority’s representative David told reporters, “Sapam assured us that the issues related to the killing of 3 persons will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting and that the Minister will tender his resignation if the Government fails to honour the sentiment of the public.”

Protesters also stormed the house of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister L Susindro Singh, another senior officer said.

Agitators in Sagolband area of Imphal West district gathered in front of the residence of BJP legislator RK Imo, who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and raised slogans demanding an “appropriate response from the Government” over the killing of 3 persons and urging the authorities to “arrest the culprits within 24 hours”.

Protesters, who had come to meet Keishamthong constituency’s independent legislator Sapam Nishikanta Singh at his residence at Tiddim Road, targeted the office building of a local newspaper owned by him after they were told that the legislator was not present in the State, a senior officer said.

The mob destroyed some temporary structures in front of the office building, he claimed.

Three bodies, suspected to be of 6 missing people from Jiribam district, were found near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers along the Manipur-Assam border on Friday night.

The bodies of a woman and 2 children were found about 16 km from Borobekra in Jiribam district, close to the location where the 6 people went missing on Monday.

Meanwhile, all security forces deployed in Manipur have been directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace in the State as the security scenario remained “fragile” in the past few days, the Union Home Ministry said Saturday.

A fresh cycle of violence erupted in Manipur last Monday after 11 suspected militants, who allegedly attacked a police station and adjoining CRPF camp with sophisticated weapons in Manipur’s Jiribam district, were killed in an exchange of fire.

A day later, 6 civilians, including women and children were abducted by armed militants from the same district.

“The security scenario in Manipur has remained fragile for the past few days. Armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence leading to unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order,” the Ministry said on Saturday.

The Home Ministry said strict action would be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities. It said important cases have been handed over to the NIA for effective investigation.

“The security forces have been directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace. Strict action would be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities”, it said.

The Union Home Ministry requested the people to maintain peace, not believe in rumours and cooperate with the security forces to maintain law and order in the State.

Seeing the fragile situation, the Centre re-imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur’s 6 police station areas, including the violence-hit Jiribam on Thursday.

The fresh order came after the Manipur Government imposed AFSPA in the entire state on October 1, barring 19 police station areas that include these 6.

The police stations excluded from the Manipur Government’s October 1 order were Imphal, Lamphal, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Lamlai, Irilbung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakching, Jiribam.

The influential Meitei organisation, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, announced a civil disobedience movement starting Saturday.

The 6 missing individuals ~ 3 women and 3 children, including an infant ~ had been unaccounted for since a gunfight in Jiribam district on Monday, in which CRPF and police personnel killed 10 alleged “militants”. Kuki-Zo organisations claimed those killed were “village volunteers”.

Three bodies were recovered on Friday, with the remaining 3 found on Saturday. All 6 were taken to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Assam’s Cachar district for post-mortem. Earlier, the State Government confirmed that 3 of the bodies were of the missing persons.

Tensions had been mounting across the Imphal Valley since Friday night, following reports of the first 3 bodies being discovered. By Saturday morning, protestors, including women, were blocking roads and burning tyres in various parts of the valley. The protests intensified when news of the additional 3 bodies surfaced. Police resorted to using force to control the crowds, leading to scuffles in several areas.

Businesses shut their doors following the protests and schools and colleges remained closed, as the Government had declared a holiday earlier in the day.

In a related development, Kuki-Zo protestors outside SMCH in Silchar pelted stones at security personnel while demanding custody of the bodies of 10 “village volunteers” killed on Monday. The security forces used force to disperse the crowd, leaving some injured. Later, the bodies were airlifted to Churachandpur in Manipur.

The Kuki-Zo organisation Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum expressed displeasure at the Central Government’s decision to airlift the bodies instead of transporting them by road, as requested by the community.

The Mizoram Government expressed sadness over the ongoing violence in Manipur and urged all parties to avoid actions that could incite communal incidents in Mizoram.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) acknowledged the fragile security situation in Manipur. “Armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence, leading to unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order. All security forces have been directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace. Strict action will be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities. Important cases have been handed over to NIA for effective investigation”, the MHA said in a statement.

The situation remains tense, with both communities calling for justice amidst a backdrop of escalating violence.

(PTI & TNIE)