Manipur on the boil again: 20 injured in Bishnupur; curfew reimposed in Imphal valley

Fresh violence has been reported from Manipur yet again on Thursday. Following the violence, a curfew has been reimposed in the Imphat East and Imphal East districts of Manipur.

Imphal (Manipur): At least 20 people were injured in clashes as the Army and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel fired tear gas shells at Kangvai and Phougakchao area in the Bishnupur district of Manipur on Thursday, officials said. Also, curfew has been reimposed in Imphal East and Imphal West districts of the northeastern state, where violence has erupted since May 3.

So far, at least 120 people have been killed in the violence in the strife-torn state, following which the Opposition INDIA bloc led by the Congress has repeatedly targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence. The Opposition parties have also been demanding a debate on the situation in Manipur, in both the Houses of Parliament - Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"And whereas there is an urgent apprehension of disturbance in the law and orders in the district, and to prevent any untoward incidents and also loss of life and property and further as a precautionary, the total curfew which was relaxed from 05:00 am to 08:00 pm on August 3 in Imphal West District stands withdrawn. A total curfew is imposed in the district with immediate effect and restriction of movement of the general public outside their residences is enforced in all areas of Imphal West District," the Imphal West District Magistrate said in an order.

"Movement of persons belonging to essential services such as health, electricity, PHED, petrol pumps, schools/colleges, and municipality. Press and electronic media, functioning of courts, and to and fro movement of flight passengers to the airport shall be exempted from the imposition of curfew," the District Magistrate added.

A separate order was issued by Imphal East District Magistrate. Meanwhile, adding to the complexities, the apex tribal body, Indigenous Tribal Leader Forum (ITLF), stated that the cremation of 35 people was postponed at the site of Haolai Khopi village in Churachandpur district, bordering Bishnupur, following a Manipur High Court order for proper conditions at the proposed burial site.

In light of the ongoing crisis, the ITLF addressed a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah outlining their demands, which included the legalization of the burial site in S. Boljang, Churachandpur, Manipur, non-deployment of all Meitei state forces in hill districts to ensure the safety of the Kuki-Zo communities, transfer of the dead bodies of the Kuki-Zo communities lying in Imphal to Lamka (Churachandpur) due to burial delays, acceleration of their political demand for total separation from Manipur, and transfer of tribal jail inmates in Imphal to other states for their safety.

Tension has been brewing since morning in Bishnupur district as thousands of locals came out on the streets to block the movement of security forces. Locals led by women tried to pass the barricade put up by the Army and RAF personnel, demanding that they be allowed to go to Tuibuong, the burial site.