Army Brings Violence-Hit Areas Under “Firm Control”
Violence in Manipur: Nearly 10,000 soldiers from the army and Assam Rifles were deployed.
Imphal:
Life returned to cautious normality in the Imphal Valley on Saturday as shops and markets reopened and cars moved on the streets. The security presence, reinforced by flying in more Army troops, Rapid Response Forces and Central Police Forces, was clearly visible in all key areas and streets.
Most shops and markets in Imphal town and other places opened in the morning and people bought vegetables and other essential goods, although security forces were deployed in large numbers.
Meanwhile, five militants were killed on hilltops and two jaws of India Reserve Battalion injured in two separate encounters in Churachandpur district on Friday night, police said.
An encounter ensued between the security forces and the militants in Saiton in Churachandpur district, in which four militants were gunned down, police said.
Militants opened fire on security forces in Torbung, forcing them to return fire. One militant was killed and two IRB Jaws injured in the exchange of fire, police said.
A defense spokesman said a total of 13,000 people had been rescued and taken to safe shelters, some in army camps, as the army took “firm control” of Churachandpur, Moreh, Kakching and Kangpokpi districts.
“In the past 12 hours, Imphal East and West districts have witnessed sporadic incidents of arson and attempts by hostile elements to establish blockades. However, the situation was controlled by a determined and synergistic response,” the defense official said Friday night.
However, details of the incidents were not available.
Several sources said the inter-community fighting killed several dozen people and injured nearly a hundred. However, the police would not confirm this.
The bodies were brought from such districts as Imphal East and West, Churachandpur and Bishenpur.
Many people with gunshot wounds are also treated at the RIMS and the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.
“The quick response of the security forces resulted in the rescue of civilians from all communities from different minority areas in areas affected by violence. As a result, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Moreh and Kakching are now under firm control and no major acts of violence have been reported as of last night. said the PRO.
Nearly 10,000 army and Assam Rifle soldiers are stationed in the state, which has been rocked by clashes since Wednesday between the Meitei community, who mainly live in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki tribesmen, who live in the mountainous districts.
“A total of about 13,000 civilians were rescued and are currently in various ad hoc shelters created specifically for this purpose within the company’s operational bases and military garrisons,” the defense official said.
Union Home Secretary Amit Shah reviewed the situation in Manipur with Chief Minister N Biren Singh and senior officials on Friday, even as the center dispatched additional security forces and anti-riot vehicles to maintain peace there.
Around 1,000 other central paramilitaries with anti-riot vehicles arrived in Manipur on Friday, sources said.
Trains to Manipur were canceled with immediate effect on Friday due to the prevailing situation in the state, a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) spokesman said.
The violence first erupted in the Torbung area of Churachandpur district during the Tribal Solidarity March organized by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday to protest Meiteis’ call for the Scheduled Tribe (ST ) status to protest.
The march was organized by some tribesmen – including Kukis – after the Manipur High Court last month asked the state government to submit a recommendation to the center within four weeks on the Metei community’s request for ST status.
During the march in Torbung, an armed mob allegedly attacked people from the Meitei community, prompting retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, escalating violence across the state, police said.
Meiteis make up about 53 percent of the population and live mainly in the Imphal Valley. Tribesmen, which include Kukis, make up another 40 percent of the population and live mostly in the hilly areas surrounding the valley.
(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published by a syndicated feed.)