Manipur Relaxes Curfew, Lifts Suspension of Internet

Guwahati: The Manipur government on Wednesday relaxed the curfew in three Imphal Valley districts and the suspension on broadband Internet services was also lifted with conditions. The chief minister’s secretariat served notices to 11 MLAs, including ministers, for not attending a meeting convened by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on November 18 to discuss the situation in the state.

Claiming dissension in the ruling alliance, sources in Imphal said the National People’s Party, which has seven MLAs, also issued show-cause notices to three MLAs who had participated in the Chief Minister’s meeting despite the party withdrawing support to the BJP-led government in the state.

The curfew was relaxed following a partial improvement in the overall law and order situation. It was imposed indefinitely on November 16 after widespread mob violence during which the homes and properties of over a dozen legislators, including a minister, were either burnt, vandalised or looted.

The attacks prompted some legislators to construct bunkers at their residences, while the government has heightened security measures for them. The markets were bustling with residents buying essential items, while long queues formed at petrol pumps that reopened during the curfew relaxation. However, educational institutions remained closed.

Mobile Internet services remained suspended in nine districts, though the government conditionally lifted the suspension on broadband services.

No incidents of violence were reported on Tuesday or during the morning hours of Wednesday. Security personnel, including the Army, paramilitary forces and police, have been deployed across vulnerable areas to maintain order.

It is significant that at a meeting of NDA MLAs, which was held on Monday at the Chief Minister’s residence, a resolution was passed to act against the Kuki militants behind the abduction and killing of six Meitei women and children.

Sources said a number of legislators who have been advocating for peace in trouble-torn Manipur felt divisive actions and a resolution by community leaders against the other community was largely responsible for the growing enmity between the two, resulting in a fresh round of ethnic unrest in the state.

One of the BJP legislators who did not attend the meeting said it was high time that steps should be taken to re-establish harmony between the communities but divisive resolutions would trigger fresh violence and unrest. Seeking anonymity, he said that insurgents have no community, so leaders should be careful in drafting such resolutions that could lead to unrest.

Another BJP legislator who was in New Delhi told reporters, “There has been an erosion in Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s support base among his own MLAs in the past year. While Kuki BJP MLAs demanded his resignation last year itself in the aftermath of violence, there have been a couple of instances in the last one year where several Meitei BJP MLAs also sought his removal.”

In the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the BJP has 37 MLAs, including five who shifted from Janata Dal (United). Besides these, the Naga People’s Front (NPF), a BJP ally, has five MLAs.

Another former ally National People’s Party (NPP), which had withdrawn its support last Sunday following the Jiribam violence, has seven. Former ally Kuki People’s Alliance has two, the Congress has five MLAs, the JD(U) has one and there are three Independents.