As the situation in Manipur deteriorated from Wednesday with churches, houses, and vehicles being torched and vandalized, people being killed, and rioters running amok in parts of Imphal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Bishnupur, and Moreh, the Central government has imposed Article 355 and appointed Ashutosh Sinha, ADGP (Intelligence), as the overall Operational Commander to control the situation and restore normalcy in the state.
Article 355 gives the central government the authority to take all necessary measures to protect a state against internal disturbances and external aggression.
Insiders in violence-torn Manipur tell this newspaper that the fighting is between the Meitei/Meetei and Kuki communities, and that the confirmed total number of dead at the time of filing this report is 20, all of them belonging to the Kuki community. However, it was also reported that a Naga church had been burned down.
According to a senior journalist from Imphal, the situation is still ‘out of control’ and even those who have married Kukis are now afraid and seeking refuge.
Sources confirmed with this newspaper that Kuki BJP Legislator Vungzagin Valte from Thanlon constituency was attacked and is in a coma at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal (RIIMS), and will likely be airlifted to Delhi.
As the situation worsened, the Manipur Governor approved the state home department’s shoot-at-sight order on Thursday, empowering district magistrates to issue “shoot-at-sight orders in extreme cases whereby all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force, etc. had been exhausted.”
According to report, some 500 members of the Rapid Action Force, a riot control police force, have been flown into Imphal to assist the army, Assam Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force, and the state police in containing the violence that began on Wednesday.
It was also reported that security forces had evacuated almost 9,000 people from violence-hit areas.
“We are now learning that people have been asked to leave Manipur University, its hostels, and so on. We’ve been told that some of the students have been transferred to an Army camp, while others are hiding somewhere else,” a Manipur resident said.
Naga Legislators in Manipur appeal to end violence, calls for public cooperation
Naga Legislators of Manipur Legislative Assembly today appealed to those concerned to immediately stop further violence in the state. They promised to extend all possible assistance in bringing back normalcy in the state. Addressing the media on behalf of Naga Legislators, Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai expressed deep concerns over the prevailing turmoil in Manipur and appealed to those involved to immediately stop further violence in the interest of future generations.
NPMHR appeals for immediate cessation of violence in Manipur
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has appealed to bring an immediate end to the acts of killing and vandalism. NPMHR in a press release on Thursday mourned the loss of lives and communal fraternity in a region that has been long vitiated by wanton injustice and use of force.
The NPMHR appealed to the community leaders and the elected legislators to immediately take action to de-escalate the volatile situation and resume dialogue and negotiations with the stakeholders.
NPMHR further pointed out the “high-handedness of the State” after it issued ‘shoot-on-sight’ orders on Thursday, said that such orders “smacks of the familiar and dangerous high-handedness of a State that has historically proven to be insensitive to the needs and demands of its own citizens.
All Manipur Muslim Students Organization sets up rescue team
Meanwhile, volunteers have stepped forward to assist those affected by the violence.
Talking to Mokokchung Times, a doctor from the All Manipur Muslim Students’ Organization (AMMSO) said that the AMMSO has got together to operate a rescue team at their own risk.
“We have already accommodated more than 2500 people in a predominantly Muslim populated area,” he said, adding that violence has broken out in a tribal-populated area nearby and therefore, the tribals have been coming to the Muslim area adjacent to them.
“I myself have already arranged 5 houses and accommodated more than 60 plus, and another more than 2,500 is inside this area only, so we are accommodating each other,” the doctor said.
He stated that some organizations will be joining the rescue team, but for the time being, AMMSO is the only one doing the rescue effort.
Meanwhile, a citizen from a Naga-inhabited area in Manipur said, “In Naga-inhabited areas, whether Meiteis or Kukis, they are all protected by the Nagas. They are all safe and sound. We’re looking out for them.”
Citizens angry with Manipur CM
Meanwhile, one neutral observer stated that the government bears the responsibility. According to the observer, ATSUM announced the solidarity march 5-6 days prior, prompting the Meiteis in the region to get together and decide to counter-block those holding the rally.
“The person coming from the hill areas was blocked by the Meiteis, and the person coming from the valley area was blocked by the Tribal Students, and that is how the communal clash began,” the observer explained, adding that “the government could have prevented it.”
“It should not have happened between the two communities. The tribal students are asking something from the government in a democratic set up, and the administration should have prevented this from happening.”
The observer went on to say that the violence in the Imphal area, in particular, should have been avoided.
“In the Imphal area, Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis and Muslims all coexist, so how could the government not provide them with protection is one of the most pressing questions,” the observer continued.
“All security forces are present, including the Army, CRPF, and 7MR. How is it possible that the government is powerless to intervene? It appears like the government is allowing free license to the violence. The onus is on the government,” the observer stated.
According to a senior journalist, the relationship between the communities has been strained for some time for a variety of reasons.
“CM Biren Singh’s ‘War on Drugs’ declaration has also contributed to the rift, as tribals were ordered to destroy their poppy plantation, which they didn’t take well. The Chief Minister’s order to preserve forest and asking people not to occupy lands in the hill by destroying reserve forest is also one; the Meiteis’ ST demand and the HC recommendation have made them insecure because they believe the Meiteis will take away all the benefits or something like that; all of this has made people very angry with the Chief Minister,” the journalist said.
The senior journalist added that the violence has been particularly severe in Churachandpur district, which is dominated by the Kuki. According to him, the CM sought to evacuate the people who lived there, stating that many migrants from Moreh (Myanmar) entered and stayed illegally.
