Imphal: The state of Manipur has been on the boil again with clashes between the Kuki and Meitei people and fresh violence that has resulted in deaths of several people. The violence has also triggered protests by the locals causing the government to impose an indefinite curfew and also suspend the internet in the affected areas. Read to know what has triggered fresh violence in Manipur and why are the locals protesting…

What Triggered Fresh Violence in Manipur?

Manipur has been in the news for violence and clashes between the people of Kuki and Meitei tribes since May last year. While situation was in control for the past few months, there has been a sudden increase in violence in the state in the past few days. The violence in the state was triggered by the discovery of six bodies of Meitei people, in a decomposed state.

These six individuals, who were living in a shelter camp for the displaced in Jiribham, had been missing for the past week after a gunfight between militants and security forces that killed 10 insurgents. Bodies of a woman and two children were found on Friday and on Saturday, bodies of the other three – two women and a child were recovered from a river.

‘Govt Will Bear the Brunt…’: Ultimatum to Central and State Governments

Following the deaths of the six individuals, fresh violence was reported and an ultimatum was also issued to both the central and the state governments. The spokesperson of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI)-led civil society groups, Khuraijam Athouba said in a statement, “All the MLAs and other leaders must sit together to take decisive action to resolve the present crisis at the earliest. If they do not take any decisive action that satisfies the people, the government will bear the brunt of the people’s discontent and anger.”

The National Investigation Agency has taken over three cases related to the violence in Manipur. These incidents led to the death of several people and disruption of public order. The agency has taken over these cases from the Manipur Police following a recent order issued by the Home Ministry.

Internet Suspended, Curfew Imposed: Why Are Locals Protesting?

Violent protests were staged across the state, in response to the killing of these six Meitei women and children. Curfew for an indefinite period has been imposed and the internet services have also been suspended in a total of seven districts of Manipur. Senior officials of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have also been dispatched yo the state by the Centre as a response to the escalating violence. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also be chairing a second security meet today.

Raising their voices and protesting against the violence, protestors attacked the residences of state ministers and MLAs, ransacked and torched their houses, set tyres on fire in the middle of the road and also torched churches in the town. Enraged people torched the houses of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam at Ningthoukhong, Hiyanglam’s BJP MLA Y Radheshyam at Langmeidong Bazar, Wangjing Tentha’s BJP MLA Paonam Brojen in Thoubal district and Khundrakpam’s Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar in Imphal East district.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Hold Security Meet

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday reviewed the security situation in Manipur and directed top officials to take all possible steps to ensure peace in the Northeastern state, sources said. Shah held the meeting soon after he returned from Maharashtra after cancelling his election rallies there.

The home minister reviewed the situation in Manipur with top security officials and directed them to take all possible steps to ensure peace, the sources said. Shah is expected to hold another detailed meeting with top officers on Monday and take further steps, they said. Amit Shah has also cancelled all rallies in poll-bound Maharashtra amid surging violence in the state of Manipur.