Government of Manipur has on Thursday authorised all District Magistrates, Sub- Divisional Magistrates and all Executive Magistrates/ Special Executive Magistrates to issue “Shoot at Sight” orders in the State in ‘extreme cases’.
The order stated that these ‘extreme cases’ would be when ‘all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force, etc. had been exhausted under the provisions of law under CrPC, 1973 and the situation could not be controlled.’
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Widespread communal violence erupted on Wednesday between the tribals of Manipur and the Meitei/Meetei community after the public rally organised by All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM), displacing over 9,000 people.
Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles has to be deployed to contain rioting and 14 columns are on standby for deployment in case the situation flared up once again, a defence spokesperson said.
The army and Assam Rifles staged flag marches in Khuga, Tampa, Khomaujanbba areas of Churachandpur. Flag marches were also carried out in Mantripukhri, Lamphel, Koeirangi area of Imphal Valley, and Sugnu in Kakching district on Thursday, the spokesperson said.
Underlining the gravity 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 Centre, which is monitoring the situation in Manipur, has 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.
Army trucks with red flags in Manipur on 4 May 2023
So far, 9,000 people were rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter, a defence spokesperson said on Thursday, 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 shifted in Imphal Valley, and 2,000 people in the border town of Moreh in Tenugopal district.
The Army and Assam Rifles were requisitioned last night, and along with the state police, the forces arrested the violence by the morning, the spokesperson said.
“Flag marches are being conducted to keep the situation under control,” he said.
Mobile internet has been suspended in the entire State and total curfew is also in place in eight districts.
(With inputs from PTI)
