Manipur On The Boil, Urges Centre To Lift AFSPA: Know How Violence Escalated

Imphal: Tensions escalated in Manipur after the recovery of bodies of all six missing persons, who were allegedly abducted by Kuki militants. Following the recovery, protesters targeted the houses of ministers and MLAs, ransacking their premises and set some of those on fire.

According to reports, they also tried to storm the Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s house as security forces responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd in Imphal.

Protesters ransacked the homes of three ministers and six MLAs, including the residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s son-in-law, setting their properties ablaze, reported the India Today.

The government imposed prohibitory orders in five districts indefinitely and suspended internet services in some parts of the northeastern stated.

Amid such a scenario, Manipur has asked the Centre to withdraw the stringent Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which was re-introduced in some parts of the state. It was demanded by a consortium of Meitei groups as well.

Here are some points on violence in Manipur:

• A total curfew has been imposed in Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching districts of Imphal valley. Internet and mobile data services has been suspended for two days in seven districts. Security has been beefed up with the deployment of the Army, Assam Rifles, and state police.
• The miscreants reportedly set fire to at least two churches and three houses in Jiribam town. The ministers whose houses were stormed by protesters include Health Minister Sapam Ranjan, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister L Susindro Singh, and Municipal Administration and Housing Development Minister Y Khemchand.
• At least 23 three people involved in ransacking and setting fire were arrested in Imphal and Bishnupur.
• Manipur government requested the Centre to review and withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from areas falling under the jurisdiction of six police stations in the state. The Centre, earlier this week, reimposed AFSPA in Manipur’s six police station areas, including Jiribam.
• The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of Meitei civil society organisations, demanded military action on militants within 24 hours, besides repealing of AFSPA
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called on the Prime Minister to visit the state. “The recent string of violent clashes and continuing bloodshed in Manipur is deeply disturbing. After more than a year of division and suffering, it was the hope of every Indian that the Central and State governments would have made every effort at reconciliation and found a solution. I urge the PM once again to visit Manipur and work towards restoring peace and healing in the region,” he had said.