The curfew, imposed last week after the violence broke out, was relaxed on Tuesday from 5 am to 8 am in Imphal West district to allow people buy essentials like vegetables and other food items. Over 100 columns of the Army have been deployed in the state along with Assam Rifles, paramilitary and state police, around 10,000 security personnel are on the ground to maintain the law and order situation after the violence erupted in the state since May 3.
In a video shared by ANI, people came out in large numbers to buy vegetables, groceries and medicines.
Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh said that around 60 people lost their lives in the violence. He urged people of Manipur to maintain law and order and said that a high level inquiry will be conducted to hold those responsible for the violence to account. The chief minister also thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for monitoring the situation and sending central forces to restore normality at the earliest.
He further urged people not to obstruct the movement of public transport. He said those stranded in Manipur are given the best care. They are being moved to safe locations and shelters and that till now 20,000 people have been evacuated and 10,000 more remain stranded.
However, internet services remained suspended in the state and curfew continued to be enforced in violence-hit regions.
Clashes broke out on May 3 after tribals organised a demonstration in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the politically influential Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and live in the hill districts. So far, 23,000 people have been rescued from the violence-hit areas and moved to military garrisons, officials said.