GUWAHATI: Manipur’s valley districts plunged into violence Saturday as protesters torched property and attacked homes of ministers and MLAs in Imphal, following the discovery of six bodies – three women and three children – in the Barak river in conflict-ridden Jiribam over the past two days. Security forces drove away a mob that tried to target CM N Biren Singh’s vacant ancestral home outside Imphal.
State government imposed a curfew in Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur districts from 4.30pm indefinitely and suspended internet and mobile data services in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur to curb the spread of hate speech and inflammatory videos on social media. The bodies are suspected to be that of six missing inmates from a camp for displaced Meitei people near the site where security forces killed 10 Hmar men on November 11. While the forces described the slain men as militants, the Kuki-Zo community claims they were village volunteers.
The six Meitei victims were a 25-year-old woman and her two young children, a 31-year-old woman and her daughter, and a 60-year-old woman. They were allegedly abducted by Kuki militants. The bodies have been sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Assam for autopsy.
Protesters accused the ministers and MLAs of failing to curb the escalating violence. They also opposed the re-imposition of AFSPA in several areas. Residences of BJP legislators, including CM Biren Singh’s son-in-law Rajkumar Imo Singh, Raghumani Singh, and Sapam Kunjakeswor, were attacked. Independent MLA Sapam Nishikanta’s house was also targeted. Protesters stormed the homes of health minister Sapam Ranjan and consumer affairs minister L Susindro Singh in Imphal.
Withdraw November 14 order reinstating AFSPA, Biren government requests Centre
The Union government Saturday acknowledged the “fragile” security situation in Manipur. “Armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence, leading to unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order,” it said, directing security forces to restore peace.
Biren Singh’s government requested home ministry to review and withdraw its Nov 14 decision whereby parts of five districts under six police stations were designated as disturbed and AFSPA was reinstated in these areas. Meitei Heritage Society (MHS) condemned abductions and killings in the strongest terms. “We are shocked beyond words, and nothing less than an exemplary capital punishment would do justice for victims. We request Centre and Manipur government to go all out to arrest and punish terrorists involved in this heinous crime,” it said.
(With inputs from BB Goswami in Silchar)
