Section 144 Imposed In Manipur's Churachandpur For 2 Months After Fresh Violence

Section 144 was imposed by Manipur government in Churachandpur district after the region witnessed fresh bout of violence.

Section 144 has been imposed in Manipur's Churachandpur district ( Image Source :Getty Images )

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code have been imposed by the Manipur government in Churachandpur district for two months following fresh violence, as per an official order. The northeastern state has been in the grip of ethnic violence since May this year and the district magistrate said that the situation is “still tense”. 

Incidents of sporadic violence were reported from several places in Churachandpur district, especially in Thingkangphai village, on Monday, according to a PTI report. 

"There are still chances of breach of peace due to the confrontation between the two groups of people… and the situation is still tense," the district magistrate said in an order.

The prohibitory order that prohibits five or more people to gather in public areas and carrying arms was imposed by the state government on Monday and will remain in effect until February 18, 2024, the PTI report added. 

All efforts have been made by law enforcement agencies to maintain peace in the affected areas, District Magistrate Dharun Kumar S said.

Over 180 people have been killed in the violence that erupted on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Last month, the Supreme Court issued orders requiring the burial or cremation of remains found in mortuaries in the state, according to a PTI report. 

A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud noted that a report filed by the supreme court-appointed all-woman committee of former high court judges, chaired by justice (retd) Gita Mittal, showed the location of the remains in mortuaries in the northeastern state.

Meiteis constitute about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, account for 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.