After the violent clashes in several parts of Manipur, people are trying to go back to their normal routines. The Indian Army did report sporadic incidents of arson by miscreants, on Friday, in West and East Imphal, but people were seen trying to engage in their regular chores. The Army, Air Force and Assam Rifles worked for over 48 hours to restore law and order and bring back the state to normalcy.
A petrol station in Imphal saw a long queue of people waiting for their turn. In a video shared by the news agency ANI, people on their two-wheeler were waiting in a slow-paced queue, including healthcare workers and officegoers.
Most shops and markets in Imphal town and other places opened in the morning with people buying vegetables and other essential commodities.
However, security presence remained, army troops and rapid action force, and central police forces were visible in all major areas and roads.
The clashes broke out on Wednesday, in the Torbung area of Churachandpur district during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the ten hill districts of the state. It was to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who account for 53 per cent of the state's population, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The march was organised by tribals, who account for about 40 per cent of the state’s population, after the Manipur High Court asked the state government last month to send a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks on the demand for ST status by the Metei community.
During the march, an armed mob allegedly attacked people of the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated the violence throughout the state, police told PTI.
To restore law and order in the state, the Army and Assam Rifles took over at the request of the Manipur government. Several people were evacuated and sent to government and Army premises for safety.