Churachandpur Under Siege: Curfew Returns as Violence Escalates, Shoot-at-Sight Order Looms While Thousands Evacuate
- Posted on May 7, 2023
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
- 344 Views
The strict curfew
enforced in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, limiting people's mobility,
has been eased for a specific duration on Sunday. From 7 am to 10 am, residents
are now permitted to move around, as per the latest notification.
The purpose
behind this partial relaxation is to enable individuals to purchase essential
items such as food and medicine.
Following intense
clashes between tribal groups and members of the Meitei community, a curfew was
enforced on May 3 in Manipur. The violent confrontations have resulted in the
displacement of numerous individuals and the unfortunate loss of at least 54
lives.
In an exclusive
interview with News18, Kuldiep Singh, the Security Advisor dispatched by the
central government to Manipur, conveyed that the situation in the strife-torn
state remains tense but is presently under control.
He further
acknowledged a limited number of casualties resulting from police firing in
Churachandpur. However, he emphasized that the authorities have not yet
resorted to implementing "shoot-at-sight" orders.
Manipur is
currently experiencing a heightened state of tension, but the Indian Army and
paramilitary forces are effectively collaborating to maintain control and
establish peace. On Saturday, extensive aerial surveillance operations were
conducted across different regions to closely monitor and assess the situation
at hand.
On Saturday,
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh presided over a gathering involving
representatives from various political parties to assess the prevailing
circumstances. The purpose of the meeting was to collaborate on efforts to
establish peace and stability within the state.
During the discussions, the attendees reached a consensus to appeal for calm among the people of Manipur, urging them to refrain from engaging in any activities that may escalate violence or create unrest. PTI quoted Singh as emphasizing the importance of unity and collective action in achieving these goals.
False rumors are
spreading and causing fear among the public amidst a tense situation. Assam
Rifles stationed in Jiribam received information that armed individuals were
potentially heading toward the town in a truck. As a result, a suspicious truck
was intercepted at the Jiribam-Tamenglong border. Inside the truck, 51 local
residents were found hiding, attempting to escape the violence in the state.
Assam Rifles successfully rescued all the civilians and transported them safely
to Cachar.
On Wednesday
night, violent unrest erupted following organized protests by tribal groups
such as the Kukis and Nagas. These demonstrations were held in opposition to a
proposed measure that would grant scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community,
which forms the majority in the state.
The Meitei
community, making up 53% of the population, predominantly resides in the Imphal
Valley. On the other hand, the tribal communities, comprising 40% of the
population and including the Nagas and Kukis, mainly inhabit the hill districts
surrounding the valley.
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