Manipur govt issues 'shoot at sight' orders amid spiralling violence

Guwahati/Imphal: Violence during a state-wide tribal solidarity march called by the All Tribal Student Union (ATSUM) opposing the demand for tribal status by the state’s majority Meitei community on Wednesday, rocked Manipur on Thursday as well, and the Army was called out to conduct flag marches in the violence-hit areas of the state.

The Manipur government on Thursday issued shoot-at-sight orders in “extreme cases” to contain the spiralling violence, which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages.

Fifty-five columns of the Army and the Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain the widespread rioting that broke out across Manipur between tribals and the Meitei community. The Army also kept some 14 columns on stand-by, a defence spokesperson said.

The Centre, which is monitoring the situation, has dispatched the Rapid Action Force (RAF) for deployment in violence-hit areas.

Curfew had been imposed in eight districts of Manipur late on Wednesday night after violence erupted in Imphal, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. The Manipur government has also suspended mobile Internet across the state.

Over 9,000 people have been rescued and given shelter in Army camps and government offices. The Indian Army in a statement said: “The Indian Army and Assam Rifles undertook major rescue operations to evacuate more than 7,500 civilians of all communities relentlessly throughout the night to restore law and order in Manipur.  The Indian Army remains committed to the well-being and safety of the population of Manipur.”

The All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) had on Wednesday called a “Tribal Solidarity March” in Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest against the non-tribal Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The police said that thousands took part in the rally during which violence broke out between tribals and non-tribals.

In fact, ATSUM had called for similar marches in all 10 hill districts of the state to oppose the move for inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the ST category.

The Meitei community constitutes 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and primarily inhabits the Manipur Valley. The Meiteis claim that they are facing a threat to their existence in the wake of “large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmar and Bangladesh” nationals into the state. Under existing law, the Meitei non-tribals are not allowed to settle in hill areas of the state.

The situation started deteriorating and remained tense in Manipur for the past two to three days, after a mob vandalised and set on fire the venue where Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was scheduled to hold a programme in Churachandpur district. Tension gripped the district after protests and arson in New Lamka town in Churachandpur district over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest areas recently.

Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to the Manipur CM and took stock of the situation. The Centre, which is monitoring the situation in Manipur, has dispatched teams of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) for deployment in violence-hit areas of the state.

Security sources in Imphal said many protesters were seen burning tyres and other objects on the isolated roads of Torbung village in Tuibong tehsil area in Churachandpur district. The police fired several rounds of teargas shells to control the situation. Curfew was imposed in non-tribal dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam and Bishnupur districts and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts.

Chief Minister Biren Singh, in a video message, said the violence occurred due to misinterpretation of certain issues between two communities and appealed for peace. Assuring that steps were being taken to restore peace, he said, “Long-term grievances of different communities will also be suitably addressed in due course in consultation with the people and their representatives,” he said.

Boxing champion Mary Kom wrote on Twitter that her state was “burning” and sought help from the Central government and media organisations.

The shoot-at-sight order issued on behalf of the Governor said “shoot-at-sight” could be resorted to when persuasion, warnings and reasonable force “have been exhausted and the situation could not be controlled”. The notification signed by the state’s commissioner (home) was issued under provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.