New Delhi: There has been an uproar in Manipur over the demand to include the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. Large-scale protests are being held by tribal groups against the demand to include the Meitei community in ST. Due to this, curfew has been imposed in 8 districts and mobile internet services have been stopped in the entire state.
Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed to control the violence in Manipur. The local administration called in the army on the intervening night of 3-4 May. Army and Assam Rifles personnel along with the state police swung into action during the night to control the situation. The violence was brought under control till Thursday morning. About 4000 villagers have been given shelter at different places in the COBs of the Army and Assam Rifles and on the premises of the state government. At the same time, a flag march is being done to keep the dharna under control. The work of sending the villagers to safe places away from the places of violence is going on.
The violence had erupted during a tribal unity march called by a students’ body to protest the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. During this, the mob ransacked the houses amid tension in Churachandpur. According to media reports, thousands of agitators took part in the rally and during this violence broke out between tribals and non-tribals in the Torbang area.
To control the crowd, the police fired tear gas shells. In view of the current situation, a curfew has been imposed in non-tribal-dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts. At the same time, a curfew has been imposed in tribal-dominated Churanchandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts. Apart from this, mobile internet service in the entire state has been suspended for five days with immediate effect. But broadband services continue.
On Wednesday, thousands of people took part in the tribal unity march taken out by the students’ organization to protest against the demand of the Meitei community. The organization had called upon the people of all the 10 hill districts of the state to join the march.
