Situation worsens in Manipur, attacks on MLAs’ houses, curfew imposed after 6 people died
#News Bureau November 16,2024
Curfew was imposed in violence-hit Manipur on Saturday in Imphal West and Imphal East and internet services were suspended in seven districts as fresh protests erupted in the valley districts against the killing of six persons whose bodies were found in Jiribam after they were allegedly abducted.
In view of the prevailing situation in the northeastern state, internet has been suspended for two days in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts. Large scale violence was reported in parts of Imphal valley districts as mobs stormed the residences of several MLAs and destroyed property. A group of people attacked the house of Sapam Nishikanta Singh and destroyed the gate and bunkers built in front of the gate. The same mob stormed the house of MLA RK Imo at Sagolband in Imphal West district and burnt furniture and broke windows.
Protests were witnessed at Khwairamband Keithel in Imphal over the abduction and killing of six people – three women and three children. Their bodies were found near a river at remote Jirimukh village in Jiribam district on the Manipur-Assam border on Friday evening, sources said on Saturday. Three women and three children staying at a relief camp went missing following an exchange of fire between security forces and militants in Jiribam district on Monday, with Meitei organisations alleging that militants had abducted them.
On November 11, a group of militants attacked a police station in the Borobekra area, but security forces repelled the attack, resulting in the killing of 11 militants. While retreating, the militants reportedly abducted three women and three children from a relief camp near the police station.
In BJP ruled Manipur, there has been communal violence between Meitei and Kuki tribes for the past one and a half years, sometimes less, sometimes more. The situation has worsened for the past 15 days. The opposition is constantly alleging that neither PM Modi is visiting Manipur nor the Chief Minister is able to take effective steps.
According to officials, the bodies were found near a river close to the interstate border and about 15 km from where the abduction took place. “The bodies have been taken to Silchar for identification. The bodies were found 15-20 km from the spot where the family of six was taken away,” an official said.
The bodies of two civilians were recovered from Jiribam village on Tuesday, a day after security officials killed 10 alleged militants following an attack by a group of armed men on a CRPF outpost. Six members of a Meitei family – three women and three children – from the same village were reported missing. Officials said they may have been abducted by militants. “My wife, two children, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and her child were abducted from home. I was at home and the incident happened in front of me. I appeal to the Indian government to please intervene here and save my family,” Laishram Herojit, a resident of Jiribam, said.
Manipur has been in the grip of violent conflict since May last year. The Centre has sent additional troops to the state amid fresh incidents of violence, shutdowns and agitations. On Friday, two separate protests rocked Manipur over the killing of 10 tribal people in the Jirbam firing and the re-imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, in the areas of six police stations.
Hundreds of people took to the streets in tribal-dominated Churachandpur district on Monday demanding justice for those killed in the firing at Jiribam, saying the deceased were rural social workers, not militants. Ngaineikim, president of the Kuki Women’s Organisation for Human Rights, said, “We have submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister and the NHRC. The recent killing of rural activists by the CRPF is a serious violation of human rights. It is imperative that the CRPF personnel guarding the buffer zone be replaced by Assam Rifles to prevent further bloodshed…”
A tribal protester said: “They killed tribal activists, not militants. Those activists were trying to protect innocent villagers from attacks by the Meitei people. We are demanding a judicial inquiry into the incident.” The conflict between the Meitei and Kuki tribals in the state has divided the entire Imphal region.
A group of seven women’s organisations in the Meitei-dominated Imphal valley on Thursday protested the Centre’s decision to re-impose AFSPA. “Re-imposition of AFSPA is an example of the present government being irresponsible and cowardly and failing to maintain law and order. AFSPA cannot restore peace in Manipur. People have already seen its impact,” said Lourembam Nganbi, president of Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL).
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Analysts say the use of AFSPA “cannot be a solution to the crisis” as the state has witnessed massive protests demanding the repeal of the Act. Sharmila Irom’s 16-year hunger strike since 2000 to get the Act repealed had attracted global attention. Even those in favour of a crackdown on violence say some other provisions should have been considered instead of reintroducing AFSPA. PM Modi should directly intervene here. He should come to Manipur and understand the real situation.
The abduction also triggered fresh protests. Targeting state Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Nganbi said, “If you do not have the strength to protect the people of Manipur, step down from your post.” The opposition Congress in Manipur said the re-imposition of AFSPA in various areas of Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Jiribam and Kangpokpi districts was “a clear symptom of the complete failure of their (BJP’s) double-engine government to handle the prevailing situation that has been going on for 18 years.”
T. Ramani, president of women’s organisation Nupi Samaj, said, “The people of Manipur want PM Modi to pay attention to the violence instead of keeping silent.”
