In view of the ongoing student protest in Manipur’s capital following the recent attacks by miscreant resulting in loss of lives, the District Magistrates of Imphal East and Imphal West have imposed total curfew from 11:00 am today with no relaxation.
The Meitei student community have demanded for the removal of the Director General of Police and the security advisor, final stand announcement by the 50 Members of the Legislative Assembly or their resignation and to end the war against the Meiteis.
On Monday, the protest outside the highly secured areas near the Raj Bhavan Main Gate turned violent after protesters began pelting stones and objects at the security personnel.
The Manipur Police later said in a press release that they tried to pacify the agitating students and warned them to disperse, however, the students got violent and therefore Police party along with CAPF personnel with due orders from the Executive Magistrate used minimum force to disperse the unruly mob.
On 1st September, suspected Kuki militants deployed numerous rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) on Koutruk village in West Imphal using high-tech drones causing two deaths.
On 2nd September, three people were injured in a similar bomb attack using drones at Senjam Chirang Maning Leikai, Imphal West District.
On 6th September, militants deployed long-range rockets among the civilian population in two locations in Moirang, Bishnupur District, killing a 78-year-old man and injuring six others.
On 7th September, one person was killed at Nungchappi Village and one in Rasidpur village under Jiribam District in attacks, suspected to have been carried out by Kuki militants.
Later, five bodies of the suspected militants were retrieved from the firing incident site at Tea Estate of Rashidpur Part-II. The Manipur Police confirmed that one body belonged to a village volunteer of Mongbung Sejang, Jairolpokpi, Jiribam, while three bodies belonged to KLA members from Churachandpur and one body belonged to a member of UNLF (P) who was a resident of Dibong Khunou, Jiribam District.
The escalation of violence in Manipur has given momentum to the question on why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited the State.
In a post on X platform, Congress leader, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Prime Minister of not making any efforts to stop the violence in Manipur.
“It has never happened that a state of the country is left burning like this for months and no one even talks about it. The internal security of the country does not depend on anyone’s wish, it is an essential responsibility. The Prime Minister’s indifference is unforgivable”, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated.
In a recent interview, former Governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey has said that the people of Manipur are upset and sad that PM Modi has not visited the state.
In a post on X Platform, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the people are suffering the “consequences of Modi-Shah’s complicity”. He also condemned Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh for remanding the transfer of the ‘Unified Command’ to the state government.
“The Unified Command oversees security operations in Manipur and is currently handled by a team of Union Home Ministry officials, the state security adviser and the Indian Army”, Kharge explained.
“Drone and rocket-propelled grenade attacks have begun, and this is now turning out to be a National Security threat” he stated.
The Indian National Congress demanded that –
1) Manipur CM should be immediately dismissed.
2) Union Govt must take full responsibility of the sensitive security situation. There should be a massive crackdown on all kinds of insurgent groups, with the help of the state forces.
3) The Supreme Court mandated and monitored Manipur Commission of Inquiry into ethnic violence must expedite its investigation. Modi Government must not misuse CBI, NIA and other agencies investigating the violence.
4) Attempts to foster peace and normalcy must start immediately by taking all political parties, representatives and civil society member of every community on board.
