Manipur Violence: Army Says ‘Situation Under Control’, ‘Shoot At Sight’ Order In Place — 10 Points

Manipur Violence Updates: An uneasy calm prevailed in the state as no fresh violence was reported overnight even though reports of gunfights between security forces and hill-based militants surfaced.

Domination and evacuation of civilians of all communities from affected areas in Manipur continued throughout the night, Indian Army informed on Friday. ( Image Source :Twitter/@Spearcorps )

Indian Army on Friday informed that the situation in Manipur has been brought under control "through coordinated actions by all stakeholders." The Indian Air Force undertook continuous sorties from two airfields in Assam employing C17 Globemaster and AN 32 aircraft. 55 columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain widespread rioting in Manipur which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages. The situation in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state deteriorated on Thursday and the Manipur government issued 'shoot at sight' orders to contain spiralling violence between tribals and the majority Meitei community. 

Manipur Violence: ‘Shoot At Sight’ Orders In Place, Congress Blames BJP  — 10 Updates

• In a tweet informing about the current situation in Manipur, the Indian Army stated that induction commenced on the night of May 4 and additional columns commenced domination with effect from the wee hours of May 5. "Domination & evacuation of civilians of all communities from affected areas continued throughout the night." Flag march in Churachandpur & other sensitive areas underway, it mentioned.

  Induction commenced on night of 4 May & additional columns commenced domination with effect from wee hours of 5 May 23. Domination & evacuation of civilians of all communities from affected areas continued throughout the night. Flag march in CC'Pur& other sensitive areas underway

  — SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) May 5, 2023

•  An uneasy calm prevailed on Friday morning as no fresh violence was reported overnight amid heavy presence of security forces, news agency PTI reported police as stating. However, the report further mentioned that gunfights were reported between security forces and hill-based militants in various parts of the state, they said.       
  The exchanges of fire were reported at Kangvai in Churachandpur district, the western hill range of Phougakchao in the adjoining Bishnupur district and Dolaithabi and Pukhao in Imphal East district, a senior police officer said, as reported by PTI.
  
  
• In an important development, the Manipur government on Thursday issued 'shoot at sight' orders to contain spiralling violence. Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey has authorised all district magistrates, sub-divisional magistrates and all executive magistrates/special executive magistrates to issue shoot-at-sight orders "in extreme cases whereby all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force etc has been exhausted". 
  
  
•  Indian Railways stated that four trains running in Manipur have been cancelled for May 5 and 6 initially. This came as Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway said that no trains will enter the violence-hit state till the situation normalises. "No trains are entering Manipur till the situation is improved. The decision has been taken after the Manipur government advised to stop train movement," Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway told news agency ANI.
  
  
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah held meetings with top functionaries of Manipur and Union governments through video conference to review the situation besides talking to CM N Biren Singh and his counterparts in Nagaland (Neiphiu Rio), Mizoram (Zoramthanga) and Assam (Himanta Biswa Sarma).
  
  
• According to a defence spokesperson, more than 9,000 people were rescued from Manipur. Out of which, some 5,000 people have been shifted to safe homes in Churachandpur, while 2,000 people each were similarly evacuated in Imphal Valley and the border town of Moreh in the Tengnoupal district.
   
• The Congress alleged that Manipur is burning because the "BJP has created fissures among communities" with its politics of hate, as stated by party president Mallikarjun Kharge in a tweet. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Randeep Surjewala remarked that Home Minister Amit Shah should resign or should be sacked forthwith. "This is a fit case where the BJP government in Manipur should be dismissed and Article 356, that is President's Rule, should be imposed," he added criticising the shoot-at-sight order.

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma on Friday informed that the District Administration of Cachar will take care of Manipur families who sought refuge in Assam. In a tweet, he also stated that he was in constant communication with his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh and pledged the full support of the Assam Government.

  "Several families affected by the recent incidents in Manipur have sought refuge in Assam. I have requested the District Administration of Cachar to take care of these families. I am also in constant communication with the HCM N Biren Singh and have pledged the full support of the Assam Government during this hour of crisis," Assam CM Himanta Sarma tweeted.

  Several families affected by the recent incidents in Manipur have sought refuge in Assam. I have requested the District Administration of #Cachar to take care of these families.I am also in constant communication with the HCM @NBirenSingh and have pledged the full support of the…

  — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 5, 2023

  Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha tweeted that his government issued helpline numbers for "providing support on a 24x7 basis to the residents of Tripura with respect to disturbance in Manipur." Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu stated that a coordination committee "under the supervision of Commissioner CMO is constituted for the safe evacuation of our students from Manipur."

  Government of Tripura has opened the following helpline numbers for providing support on 24x7 basis to the residents of Tripura with respect to disturbance in Manipur:
  
  ERSS: 112
  State Emergency Operation Centre : 1070/ 0381-2416045/ 2416241
  Whatsapp number: 8787676210

  — Prof.(Dr.) Manik Saha (@DrManikSaha2) May 4, 2023

  Govt of Arunachal Pradesh is in touch with Govt of Manipur and our students to ensure their well being.
  
  A coordination committee under the supervision of Commissioner CMO is also constituted for safe evacuation of our students from Manipur.
  
  For further details please…

  — Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) May 5, 2023

• News agency PTI reported multiple sources as saying that the fighting between communities had left more than a score of people dead and several scores more injured. However, the police were unwilling to confirm the same.
  
  
•  A tribal MLA, Vunzagin Valte, of Thanlon constituency was critically injured and was undergoing treatment at a hospital after he was assaulted by a mob on Thursday, PTI reported an officer as saying.   

Violence first erupted in the Torbung area in Churachandpur district during the 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday to protest the demand of Meitei community, which accounts 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 Meitei community.