Manipur on Wednesday protested against the growing ‘racial attacks’ on Northeastern people in New Delhi and other places of India by imposing a ‘curfew’ against non-Manipuris living in the northeastern State.
At least six student bodies of the State on Wednesday jointly enforced a ‘curfew’ against non-Manipuris across Manipur. The Joint Students’ Coordination Committee (JSCC), which is a conglomerate of six student bodies, enforced the ‘one day curfew’ from 5 am. The student bodies included All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students’ Federation, Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur, Students Union of Kangleipak, Kangleipak Students’ Association etc.
During the curfew hours, the student organisations imposed restrictions on all kinds of outdoor activities including movement of the non-Manipuris living in the State and closed all the commercial activities by the non-Manipuris across the State. The ‘curfew’ was ‘total’ in State capital Imphal since Wednesday morning and its adjoining areas. The move assumes significance as according to official statistics, Imphal houses around 5 lakh non-Manipuris alone.
“Shops and business establishments, run by non-Manipuris, remained closed for the day in the capital while few non-Manipuri students attended their classes in schools and colleges. However, there were no reports of any untoward incidents so far,” said AMSU general secretary laishram Reagan.
It may be mentioned here that the student organisations were infuriated over the alleged ‘racial attacks’ on North-easterners in Delhi. Within days after the murder of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania, a minor girl from Manipur was sexually assaulted in the national capital. Another youth from Manipur was stabbed and robbed on Monday night in Delhi though the police refused to view it as ‘racially-motivated’.
“The JSCC enforced the curfew in protest against racial discrimination of people from the Northeast in mainland India, especially the metros,” Reagan said while adding that people from Manipur and other parts of northeast India are equally Indian and people in Delhi and other parts of India must accept that. “If we look different from others, it is because of geographical factors. But that doesn’t make us foreigners,” he said while demanding the Centre to enact a law to fight racial discrimination. The student bodies have also said that they would intensify the agitation if the government in Delhi and other places fails to accede to their demands.