Manipur Violence: Curfew Eased In 3 Imphal Valley Districts, Meitei Group Calls Off Bandh

The prohibitory measures were imposed across five districts on the night of June 7 after violence broke out over the arrest of Asem Kanan Singh, a leader of the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol.

Security personnel keep a vigil amid ongoing protests in Manipur's Imphal on June 9.

Source : PTI

The Manipur government on Tuesday eased restrictions in parts of the Imphal valley by lifting prohibitory orders in three districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur. According to an official notification, residents are now permitted to step outside between 5 am and 5 pm, provided their activities do not threaten public peace or order.

The prohibitory measures were originally imposed across five districts on the night of June 7 after violence broke out following the arrest of Asem Kanan Singh, a leader of the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol.

"Movement of persons outside their homes is permitted from 5am to 5pm, as long as no activities are carried out that could disrupt law and order in the area," the government notification read.

However, the assembly of five or more persons in any public place, and carrying of stones, sticks, sharp objects, explosive materials remains strictly prohibited.

These restrictions did not apply on government agencies involved in law enforcement, emergency services, banking, and financial institutions. 

Metei Group Relaxes Bandh Call

In a separate development, Meitei group Arambai Tenggol on Tuesday announced that it would relax its 10-day bandh call, which was given three days ago, to protest the arrest of their senior leader and police action against other members, news agency PTI reported.

Manipur has been witnessing protests since the report of the arrests of Arambai Tenggol leader Asem Kanan Singh and four others surfaced. Demonstrators demanding their release defied prohibitory orders and even clashed with security forces across several districts of Imphal valley, sparking unrest in the state again.

“We had called for a 10-day bandh, but we are relaxing it from today. Using Arambai Tenggol’s name, several anti-social elements were engaged in unwanted activities including physical assaults during the period of the bandh,” PRO of the organization, Robin Mangang Khwairakpam said, as reported by news agency PTI.

Khwairakpam asserted that the arrests and multiple FIRs filed by the NIA, CBI, and state police had compelled the group to resort to protest. He also refuted allegations of the group being militant in nature.

"We are not an armed group but a socio-cultural organisation dedicated to uplifting our religion. However, we were forced to take up arms to save the land after illegal Kuki immigrants waged war on us," he said.

Manipur has been witnessing persistent ethnic unrest since May 2023, with violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities leading to the deaths of over 260 people and displacing thousands. The state remains under President’s Rule as the situation continues to evolve.