The situation in Manipur has once again gone out of control. Violence erupted in the state just hours after the bodies of six missing persons were found in a river in Jiribam district. Protesters attacked the houses of three ministers and six MLAs on Saturday. The state government then imposed curfews in five districts and suspended internet services in some parts. Officials said the situation in the state is worsening.
CM’s son-in-law’s house was also attacked
The protesters vandalized the houses of three MLAs, including the house of the Chief Minister’s son-in-law N. Biren Singh. The violent mob set fire to the houses of the MLAs. In response, security forces used tear gas grenades to disperse protesters.
6 bodies were found in the river…
In fact, the bodies of two women and a child, missing since Monday, were recovered on Saturday in the Barak River, in Jiribam, while three other bodies, including that of a woman and two children, were found on Friday by the night. These bodies have been sent to Silchar Medical College Hospital in Assam for autopsy.
The house of these ministers was attacked
The houses of the ministers whose houses were attacked by the protesters included the residences of Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister L Susindro Singh and Urban Development Minister Y Khemchand. In view of the escalating violence, the state government has imposed curfew in Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kaching districts.
Minister offered to resign
Protesters attacked Health Minister Sapam Ranjan’s house located at Lampel Sankeithel in Imphal West district. Police said Sapam told protesters that he would raise the issue of the six murders at the cabinet meeting and was ready to resign if the government did not respect public sentiments.
Protesters also attacked the house of Imphal East District Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister L. Susindro Singh, following which security forces fired several rounds of tear gas.
Protesters also attacked Urban Development Minister Y. Khemchand’s house in Singjamai area of Imphal West district. According to the police, the protesters also surrounded the house of BJP MLA RK Imo, son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The protesters vandalized the MLA’s house and set it on fire.
Apart from this, the protesters also damaged the houses of BJP MLA Sapam Kunjkesore and MLA Joykishan Singh. Officials said a vehicle was set on fire in front of MLA Sapam Kunjkesore’s house.
The protesters were advancing towards the secretariat.
Protesters burned tires on the road in Thangmeiband area near the MPL Assembly building. Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters near Keishampat Bridge, who were moving towards Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
State Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi ordered suspension of internet and mobile data services for two days in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kaching, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts. The Coordination Committee of Human Rights Organizations (COCOMI) demanded military action against the militants in Manipur within 24 hours. COCOMI spokesperson K Athoba has demanded the immediate repeal of the recently enacted Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Also read: ‘Violence has shaken the country…’, Rahul Gandhi made this demand to Prime Minister Modi when the situation worsened again in Manipur.
6 people were kidnapped
We told you that a few days ago, in a major action, the security forces in Manipur killed at least 11 armed Kuki militants, who had come to attack a police station in Borobekara, Jiribam district, on November 11 at 3:30 p.m. Kuki militants attacked CRPF camp at Borobekara in Jiribam. The CRPF also retaliated and at least 11 Kuki militants were killed in the encounter.
Three women and three children disappeared after this attack. These six members were said to have been kidnapped by Kuki militants in Jiribam. Now the bodies of three of these kidnapped people have been found in Jirimukh.
How did violence start in Manipur?
The violence in Manipur began on May 3 last year, when arson and vandalism occurred during a demonstration by the Kuki-Jo tribal community against a Manipur High Court order. In fact, the Meitei community had filed a petition in the Manipur High Court demanding that they be granted tribal status.
The Meitei community argued that Manipur had merged with India in 1949. They had tribal status before. With the hearing on the petition over, the Manipur High Court recommended to the state government that consideration should be given to including the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST).
