Violence erupts in Manipur after recovery of bodies, curfew imposed, mobile internet suspended

MHA says security situation is fragile; directs security forces to take necessary steps to restore order and peace; protestors attack CM, MLAs houses in Imphal asking them to quit if they cannot punish the killers of women and children

Manipur’s Imphal Valley relapsed into chaos on Saturday after the bodies of six persons, believed to be of women and children reported missing since November 11, were recovered from a river along the State’s border with Assam.

As protestors took to the streets, setting vehicles ablaze and attacking the residences of several MLAs in the State’s capital Imphal, the government temporarily suspended internet and mobile data services in seven affected districts of the valley, which is dominated by the non-tribal Meiteis, and the surrounding hills where the tribal Kuki-Zos are in a majority. Curfew was also clamped in the three valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur.

Rajkumar Imo Singh, the son-in-law of Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, was among the MLAs whose houses were targeted. The CM’s personal residence on the outskirts of Imphal was also reportedly attacked by a mob Saturday night. Before the two-day curfew was imposed from 4:30 p.m., large groups of people went about asking the MLAs to quit if the government was unable to ensure peace and punish the “killers of women and children”.

There are reports that a few MLAs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party may resign in a day or two.

Bodies identified

Officials in southern Assam’s Cachar district, which borders the violence-scarred Jiribam district of Manipur, said that three bodies were taken to the morgue of the Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) on Saturday afternoon. These bodies were recovered from the upstream parts of the Barak River along the Assam-Manipur border, close to where three more bodies had been recovered on Friday night.

The State government, in a statement, confirmed that three of these bodies were of people who had gone missing from a relief camp in Jiribam’s Borobekra area since Monday’s gunfight, in which the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) and Manipur police personnel gunned down 10 “militants”. Kuki-Zo organisations claimed that the slain men were “village volunteers”.

Fragile security: MHA

As violence and protests intensified in the valley areas, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said “the security scenario in Manipur has remained fragile for the past few days.”

At least 17 people have been killed in the State since November 7. Barring one, all deaths have been reported from Jiribam. This mixed-population district erupted in violence this June, more than a year after the ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo people began on May 3, 2023.

“Armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence, leading to unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order,” the MHA said in a statement, requesting the public to maintain peace, not believe in rumours, and cooperate with the security forces to maintain law and order in Manipur.

“All the security forces have been directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace. Strict action would be initiated against anyone indulging in violent and disruptive activities. Important cases have been handed over to NIA (National Investigation Agency) for effective investigation,” it further said.

Earlier, a senior police official in Imphal said three of the six people who went missing on November 11 were likely killed the same day. “We have informed the family. The husband of the woman, a policeman, is likely to travel to the SMCH, where the bodies have been sent for autopsy, for identification purposes on Sunday,” he said.

Rising tension

The Manipur government declared a holiday for schools and colleges after tension started building up in the valley on Friday night after the recovery of the three bodies. Protestors, led by women in many places, blocked roads and burnt tyres across the valley on Saturday morning, triggering panic-buying of essentials before shops and business establishments downed shutters.

The situation worsened when reports emerged about the recovery of three more bodies on the Assam-Manipur border. In the evening, the police had to use force to control and disperse protestors as scuffles were reported from various areas throughout Saturday.

The violence spread to the Jiribam district in the evening with miscreants vandalising and burning down several structures, including at least five churches. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an organisation of the Kuki-Zo people, claimed these structures had belonged to the Hmar community.

Amid the unrest, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, a Meitei pressure group, announced a civil disobedience stir against the Union government.

Kuki-Zo demand

Earlier in the day, Kuki-Zo protestors pelted stones at security forces outside the SMCH in Silchar, demanding the custody of the bodies of the 10 “village volunteers” killed in Monday’s gunfight. Some of the protestors were injured when the security personnel used force to disperse the crowd.

The bodies were later airlifted to Manipur’s Churachandpur. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, a Kuki-Zo organisation, said the tribal people wanted the bodies to be transported by road.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram government expressed sadness over the Manipur violence. It requested everyone to refrain from actions, which can instigate communal incidents within Mizoram.

“The government will continue to take steps to ensure the safety and security of people from outside the state, particularly those from Manipur. Similarly, the government will continue to take steps for the safety of Mizos living outside Mizoram, especially students and workers in Manipur,” a statement issued in the State’s capital Aizawl said.

Plea against AFSPA

The Manipur government on Saturday wrote to the Union Home Secretary seeking a review and withdrawal of the “disturbed area” notification for six police stations under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

The Sekmai and Lamsang police stations in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Jiribam police station in Jiribam, Moirang in Bishnupur, and Leimakhong in Kangpokpi districts were declared disturbed areas by the MHA on November 14 to “carry out well-coordinated operations by the security forces” and contain the activities of insurgent groups.

The letter said the State Cabinet had deliberated upon the matter in its November 15 meeting and decided to recommend to the Centre to review and withdraw the notification in “public interest”.

Published - November 16, 2024 01:44 pm IST