After the apologies by Manipur chief Minister N Biren Singh, fresh violence were reported from the north eastern State as security was beefed up in Kangpokpi district where the Superintendent of Police was injured in a mob attack for failing to “remove” the central armed forces as per the demands of Kuki groups.
A mob on Friday evening attacked the office of M Prabhakar, throwing stones and other “projectiles” to vent their anger over the continued deployment of central forces, particularly the BSF and the CRPF, in the Saibol village. Vehicles of district police kept within the compound of the SP’s office were vandalised. Prabhakar was injured after being hit on the forehead by some projectile, officials said.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla who took over the charge chaired a meeting with senior police, CRPF, BSF, Assam Rifles officials on Saturday and reviewed the comprehensive security situation in the state. The Governor of Manipur chaired a security meeting at Raj Bhavan in Imphal. Taking stock of the prevailing law and order situation, the Governor reviewed the security apparatus and its arrangements throughout the state, with a particular focus on border areas,” the release issued by Raj Bhavan said.
More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023.
A senior officer in Imphal said a huge contingent of security forces have been deployed in the area. “Situation is now under control and being closely monitored,” he added. In a statement, the police said that besides stones, the protestors attacked the SP office with petrol bombs. “Security forces retaliated against the mob and resorted to the use of adequate force to disperse the mob and the situation was brought under control,” it said.
The SP is “fine now and presently leading the joint security forces in tackling the situation”, it added. A few protesters, who sustained injuries during the clashes, were also been admitted to hospital, officials said.
Kuki organisations have been protesting against central forces after women of the community were allegedly baton-charged on December 31 for blocking their way. Locals claimed that several people were injured in the action by the security forces that happened in Saibol village in Twiching, which is located in the so-called ‘buffer zone’ between the Kuki-held Hills and Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley.
They said that the local women had gathered to protest what they described as the “forceful occupation” of community bunkers by security personnel. The security forces had conducted the operation at the village and its peripheral areas following gunfights between armed groups, which injured four people, including a police personnel.
Protesting the December 31 action by security forces, the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) blocked the critical transportation route of National Highway 2, disrupting the movement of goods to the Imphal Valley where the Meiteis live.
Meanwhile, the security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Loibol Khunou area of the district on Friday.
Among the items recovered were a modified 7.62 mm sniper rifle, an improvised long-range mortar, locally called ‘pumpi’, three 9mm pistols with magazines, a 12 bore Gun, an SBBL gun, 10 live rounds of ammunition, three hand grenades, three picket grenades, two tear smoke grenades and a wireless set, police said.
The Governor directed the state DGP to prioritize the safety and security of the people and urged officers from the Army and paramilitary forces to extend their fullest cooperation to the administration in maintaining law and order in the state.
Security Advisor to Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh, IGAR (South) Maj Gen Ravroop Singh and senior officers of CRPF and BSF attended the security meeting, it said. Bhalla, a former Union Home secretary, took oath as the 19th governor of Manipur on Friday.
After the violence erupted, Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he could not escape the constitutional culpability of not following “rajdharma”. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the BJP had some vested interest in keeping the border state on the boil. “The BJP is the matchstick which burnt Manipur!” he said in a social media post.
Kharge said fresh violence was witnessed recently when a mob attacked the Kangpokpi district superintendent of police, resulting in injuries. “Your incompetent and shameless chief minister has expressed regret but has conveniently brazened out your absence in the state,” he alleged.
Even the Supreme Court has said it was the primary responsibility of the Union and the state governments to ensure peace and normalcy, the Congress president noted.
