Army Deployed In Violence-Hit Areas In Manipur, Efforts On To Evacuate People
Army has been deployed in the violence-hit areas of Manipur where fresh violence erupted on Wednesday.
Responding to the request of Civil Administration in Manipur, the Army or the Assam Rifles immediately deployed an adequate number of Columns for Area Domination in all affected areas of Manipur on the evening of May 3. Action to evacuate the maximum number of people to safer areas and restore law and order is underway, the Indian Army said. The columns of the Army and Assam Rifles along with Manipur police intervened promptly to control the situation. Violence was controlled by the morning, however, approximately 4,000 villagers were provided shelter in various Army/Assam Rifles camps and on state government premises at various locations. Flag marches were also conducted to keep the situation under control. Shifting of villagers to safer areas is in progress.
#WATCH | Indian Army & Assam Rifles undertook major rescue operations to evacuate more than 7,500 civilians of all communities relentlessly throughout the night to restore law & order in Manipur.
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2023
(Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/SXtR7rjsE1
On Wednesday, the Manipur government ordered the suspension of mobile internet services for five more days in the wake of fresh violence in the Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts. Violence broke out and tension escalated during a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM). The silent rally by ATSUM, protesting against the inclusion of the Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, all of a sudden turned ugly with protestors being severely injured.
According to a statement issued by P Doungel, the Director General of Police (DGP), Manipur, "The situation is still tense and volatile in the hill districts of Bishnupur and Churachandpur. Some anti-social elements are using social media extensively for circulating images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public. Social media has become a handy tool for rumour-mongers and is being used to incite the general public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state.
On the other hand, in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the Bishnupur district, the Deputy Commissioner of the violence-torn district has passed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), to prevent any breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquility and danger to human life and property,
The prohibitory order signed by Bishnupur Deputy Commissioner Lourembam Bikram read, “With this, the Bishnupur district administration has termed assembly of five or more persons unlawful in the area. Moreover, carrying sticks, stones, firearms and weapons of any description or objects which can be used as offensive weapons have been prohibited as a preventive measure that is likely to prevent a breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquility and grave danger to human lives and properties.”
Trouble started brewing in the state on April 27, 2023, after incidents of violence, including vandalizing of government properties, arson and subsequently setting the venue, where Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to inaugurate a facility, was reported after agitated crowds, led by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, who objected to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government's survey of reserved and protected forest areas besides the wetlands in the state, went on a rampage.
Meanwhile, the Manipur police have claimed that the Myanmarese nationals, who have illegally entered the state, were also involved in the arson. Moreover, the forum has accused the state government of having demolished a few churches in the state.
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