Manipur Update: Imphal in Turmoil as Curfew Strikes Again!
This article is about Manipur Update: Imphal in Turmoil as Curfew Strikes Again! Tensions have flared up in the state since photos of two teenagers’ bodies came out on Monday. Police used tear gas and force to control the protesters.
In Imphal, Manipur, protests against the killing of two students got more intense on Wednesday morning. This led to clashes between demonstrators and the police. The police had to use batons and tear gas to calm things down. They also imposed a curfew in the state capital. More info about Manipur Update: Imphal in Turmoil as Curfew Strikes Again!
Tragic Photos Emerge: Public Outrage Surges
On Monday, two photos of a girl and a boy, both 17 years old, who had been missing since July, surfaced. The first picture shows them sitting in what looks like a jungle camp with two armed men behind them. The second one is heartbreaking, showing their lifeless bodies on the ground.
Massive protests against these killings, mostly by students, erupted on Tuesday night. They tried to march to the Chief Minister Biren Singh’s house but were stopped.
Clashes and Curfew: Unrest Continues
The protests continued near Kangla Fort, near the chief minister’s residence, on Wednesday morning. This led to clashes between protesters and police. When things got out of control, the police used batons and tear gas again.
There are reports that several protesters got hurt, and some of them are in bad shape.
Manipur Update: Imphal in Turmoil as Curfew Strikes Again!
Chief Minister Biren Singh announced that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will look into the deaths of these two students. A CBI team arrived in Imphal today to start the investigation.
This decision to involve the CBI upset some members of another community. They accuse the Biren Singh government of showing favoritism ever since ethnic violence started in the state on May 3.
Curfew and Internet Ban Return
The curfew in Imphal is back after a day of allowing mobile internet. The internet ban was put in place again on Tuesday after protests over the students’ deaths. More info about Manipur Update: Imphal in Turmoil as Curfew Strikes Again!
AFSPA Extension Raises Concerns
On Wednesday, the state extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months. This law won’t apply to 19 police stations in the Imphal valley and an area near Assam.
The state’s home department issued a notice saying, “The Governor of Manipur thinks that the violent activities of extremist/insurgent groups need the Armed Forces’ help to maintain civil order in the whole state except for these 19 Police Stations.”
Manipur Update: Imphal in Turmoil as Curfew Strikes Again!
The police stations where this law won’t apply are Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingang, Lamlai, Irilbung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakching, and Jiribam.
Rising Toll in Ethnic Violence
During the ethnic violence in Manipur, which started on May 3 with a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ opposing the Meitei community’s request for Scheduled Tribe status, over 180 people have lost their lives, and more than 3,000 have been injured.
Read more: PM Modi In Gujarat: You Won’t Believe What PM Modi Said About His House in Gujarat!
