Manipur violence: Govt deploys army and issues shoot at sight order, curfew in Manipur | Imphal News


NEW DELHI: The Manipur government has issued “shoot-at-sight orders” as a last resort to control the situation amid spiralling violence in the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages.
Also See: Manipur Violence News
As many as 55 columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed in the violence-hit state to contain widespread rioting that broke out between the tribals and the majority community.
Defence PRO Lt Col M Rawat said that the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles undertook major rescue operations to evacuate more than 7,500 civilians relentlessly throughout the night to restore law and order in the state.
Here are the key developments …
Internet services suspended
Mobile internet services remained suspended in the state after the government ordered service providers like Reliance Jio Fiber, Airtel Xtreme, BSNL etc to bar broadband and data services.
In the wake of widespread violence, the state had yesterday issued orders for the suspension of data services for 5 days.
Shoot-at-sight orders
With violence escalating on Thursday, the state government issued “shoot at sight” orders in extreme cases.
It said that all magistrates could issue the order when persuasion, warning and reasonable force “have been exhausted and the situation could not be controlled”.
The notification signed by the Commissioner (Home) of the state government was issued under provisions of the criminal procedure code 1973.

Army conducts aerial reconnaissance
Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain widespread rioting that broke out across the state.
The Army also kept some 14 columns on standby for deployment in case the situation flared up once again, a defence spokesperson said.
The Army said that situation in Moreh and Kangpokpi has been brought under control and is stable.
“All efforts underway to restore normalcy in Imphal & Churachandpur. Precautionary build-up of additional troops in Manipur will continue,” the Indian Army said.
The Centre, which is monitoring the situation in Manipur, also dispatched teams of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised force to handle riots, for deployment in violence-hit areas of the northeastern state.
It also mobilising paramilitary forces from neighbouring states.

Officials said that retired IPS officer Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF chief, has been appointed as the security advisor by the Manipur government.
Amit Shah speaks to CM N Biren Singh
Earlier, Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Manipur CM N Biren Singh and took stock of the situation.
Shah also spoke to the chief ministers of the neighbouring states, including Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland), Zoramthanga (Mizoram) and Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam).

Taking all steps to control the situation: CM
Urging people to maintain peace, CM N Biren Singh said, “Precious lives have been lost, besides damage of properties, which is very unfortunate.”
However, the details of the deaths were not immediately available.
Singh said the violence was the result of “misunderstanding” in the society.
“The state government is taking all steps to maintain the law and order situation and additional para-military forces have been requisitioned to protect the lives and properties of the people,” he said.
“Central and state forces have been directed to take strong action against individuals and groups who are indulging in violence,” he said.
Meghalaya CM directs officials to evacuate students
Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma has directed state government officials to evacuate students of the state studying in various educational institutions in violence-hit Manipur.
The chief minister chaired an urgent meeting with top officials to ensure the safety of students of Meghalaya following reports of violence in Manipur.
“The chief minister highlighted that the safety of all students of Meghalaya must be ensured and directed the officials to come up with a plan for evacuation of students if the situation arises,” a senior official told PTI.
Over 200 Meghalaya students are studying in Manipur, he said and plans are afoot to airlift them, the official said.
9,000 rescued from violence-hit areas
So far, 9,000 people were rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter, the spokesperson said, adding that more people are being shifted to safer places.
The spokesperson said that some 5,000 people have been shifted to safe homes in Churachandpur, another 2,000 people were similarly evacuated in Imphal Valley, and 2,000 people in the border town of Moreh in Tenugopal district.
‘My state Manipur is burning’
Meanwhile, boxing great MC Mary Kom on Thursday urged the Centre to help control the violence that broke out in Manipur.
“My state Manipur is burning, kindly help,” the veteran boxer tweeted in the early hours, sharing photos of the violence, and tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh.

How the violence broke out
The violence broke out on Wednesday during a “Tribal Solidarity March” called by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest the demand of Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Thousands of agitators took part in the rally, during which violence between tribals and non-tribals was reported in Torbung area, a senior police officer said.
Curfew has been imposed in Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts. But broadband services were operational.
ATSUM had called for the march in all the 10 hill districts in the state to oppose move for inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the ST category.
Lawmakers of the valley have earlier openly endorsed the demand by some Meitei organisation for ST status for the majority community in Manipur, alarming communities who figure in the ST list.
(With inputs from Prabin Kalita, agencies)
Watch Manipur violence: Curfew in eight districts; internet suspended




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