Imphal: The Manipur government on Thursday issued a ‘shoot at sight’ order in “extreme cases” to contain the rising violence in the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community, which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages. The army and 55 companies of the Assam Rifles had to be deployed to quell widespread rioting between tribals and the majority Meitei community in Manipur, which displaced more than 9,000 people.
A defense spokesman said the Army has kept some 14 columns on standby for deployment in case the situation flares up again.
The Centre, which is monitoring the situation in Manipur, also sent teams of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a special force to handle the riots, for deployment in the violence-hit areas of the northeastern state. Sources said the force landed at the Imphal airport this evening.
Clashes in Manipur
The clashes escalated overnight on Wednesday after Naga and Kuki tribesmen organized a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to protest against the move to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Metis community, with the rival communities resorting to earlier attacks. counter-attacked in response.
The ‘shoot at sight’ order issued by the northeastern state’s governor on Thursday said all magistrates can issue orders when persuasion, warning and reasonable force “have been taken care of and the situation cannot be controlled”. The notification, signed by the commissioner (home) of the state government, was issued under the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.
Army and Assam Rifles conducted flag march in Khuga, Tampa, Khomoujanba areas of Churachandpur. A defense spokesperson said that flag marches were also held at Mantripukhri, Lamphel, Koirangi areas of Imphal Valley and Suganu in Kakching district on Thursday.
Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Minister of Manipur
Underlining the seriousness of the violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and took stock of the situation in the state.
The spokesman said that so far 9,000 people have been rescued and given shelter by the security forces from the violence-hit areas. He said more people were being shifted to safer places.
The spokesman said that around 5,000 people have been shifted to safe houses in Churachandpur, similarly another 2,000 people have been shifted to safer places in Imphal Valley and 2,000 people to the border town of Moreh in Tenugopal district.
The spokesman said the Army and Assam Rifles were requisitioned last night and the forces along with the state police brought the violence under control by morning. “Flag march is being conducted to keep the situation under control,” he said.
‘Tribal Unity March’
A ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized by the All Tribal Student’s Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday in ten hill districts of the state to protest against the demand of non-tribal Meites, who constitute 53 per cent of the state’s population. Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The march was organized by tribals, who form about 40 per cent of the state’s population, after the Manipur High Court last month asked the state government to send a recommendation to the Center within four weeks on the demand for ST status by the Meti community .
According to the police, during the march in Torbung area of Churachandpur district, an armed mob allegedly attacked people from the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the districts of the valley, which escalated the violence across the state. Several shops and houses were vandalized and set on fire in Torbung in the arson that lasted for more than three hours, he said.
Appeal for peace from CM
Urging people to maintain calm, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, “Apart from loss of property, precious lives have been lost, which is very unfortunate.” However, details of the deaths were not immediately available. Singh said the violence was the result of “misunderstanding” in the society.
Neighboring Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga wrote to Singh expressing concern over the violence. “As Chief Minister of Mizoram, a lifelong neighbor that has much in common with Manipur in terms of history and culture, I am deeply saddened by the violence that has erupted in parts of your state and the underlying tension between the Meitei community and the Meitei community. the tribals there,” he wrote in the letter. Singh said he spoke to Zoramthanga over phone and apprised him of the current situation.
Curfew in many districts
Curfew has been imposed in Meitei-dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam and Bishnupur districts and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts. Mobile internet services were suspended across the state.
Police said that in the Imphal Valley, houses of Kuki tribals were vandalized in several areas, forcing them to flee. Police said over 500 residents of the Kuki-dominated Langol area in Imphal West have fled their homes, and are currently staying at the CRPF camp in Lamphelpet.
He said that some places of worship were also set ablaze in Imphal Valley last night. Meanwhile, around 1,000 Metis from tribal-dominated Churachandpur district fled to different areas of Bishnupur district, including Kwakta and Moirang. Police said that more than twenty houses were also burnt in Motbang area of Kangpokpi district. Violence was also reported from Moreh near the Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district.
ST Status for Meti Community
Valley MPs have earlier openly supported the demand of some Meitei outfits for ST status, which are included in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
The Meitei live in the valley, which accounts for about one-tenth of the land area of the former princely state. They claim that they are facing problems due to “large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis”.
The hilly districts that account for most of the state’s land are mostly inhabited by tribals – including the Nagas and Kukis who are predominantly Christian – and are protected from encroachment by various laws.