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Manipur Violence: Situation under control after 54 deaths, IndiGo announces additional flights, 5 hill-based militants and 2 jawans killed in two encounters

A spokesperson for the Defence Department stated that 13,000 people were saved and relocated to secure locations, some of which were army camps, as the forces established firm control over the districts of Churachandpur, Moreh, Kakching, and Kangpokpi.

The death toll in the Manipur violence has now reached 54, even though unofficial estimates placed the number of fatalities at multiple dozens.

15 deceased were kept at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal East district, while 16 dead bodies were placed in the mortuary of the Churachandpur district hospital. Twenty-three deaths were reported by the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Lamphel in the Imphal West district.

However, Imphal Valley life resumed routine as stores and marketplaces reopened and traffic commenced on Saturday. All main areas and routes had a strong sense of security owing to the strong reinforcement of the army, rapid action force, and central police forces.

The majority of stores and markets in Imphal town and other locations opened in the morning with people purchasing produce and other necessities. The region was peaceful for most of Friday as well but witnessed sporadic clashes later in the day.

IndiGo declared that it will run additional flights connecting Kolkata and Imphal, the capitals of West Bengal and Manipur. Furthermore, the airline has chosen to absolve passengers of any charges associated with the rescheduling or cancellation of flights between May 4 and May 7.

A spokesperson for the Defence Department stated that 13,000 people were saved and relocated to secure locations, some of which were army camps, as the forces established firm control over the districts of Churachandpur, Moreh, Kakching, and Kangpokpi.

“Total of approximately 13,000 civilians have been rescued and are currently staying in various ad-hoc boarding facilities specifically created for the purpose within Company Operating Bases & Military Garrisons. In the past 12 hours, Imphal East and West districts witnessed sporadic incidents of arson and attempts by inimical elements to establish blockades. However, the situation was controlled by a firm and synergised response,” the official informed on Friday night.

According to sources, violence between communities resulted in numerous deaths and close to a hundred injuries. The police, however, declined to corroborate this. The departed were transported from Churachandpur, Bishenpur, Imphal East and West.

Both the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences are treating patients who have suffered bullet wounds.

“Prompt response by Security Forces led to rescuing of civilians of all communities from various minority pockets of areas affected by violence. As a result, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Moreh, and Kakching are now under firm control with no major violence reported since yesterday night,” the personnel noted.

Operation Kohima Calling has been initiated by the Assam Rifles to rescue the stranded Naga students in Imphal. The Naga students studying there would be collected by the Assam Rifles Column under Brigadier Ved Beniwal for the ride back to Kohima. RIMS, Central Agricultural University (CAU), and Koirengei are the pick-up locations. All students are urged to work together to arrive at the given points on time, as specified by the officials.

Nearly 10,000 men from the Army and the Assam Rifles have been deployed in the state after conflicts between the Meitei community, which is primarily based in Imphal Valley, and the Naga and Kuki ethnic groups, who reside in the hill areas, broke out and engulfed the area in bloodshed and violence since Wednesday.

On Friday, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and other top officials met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the state of affairs in Manipur as the Centre sent additional law enforcement and anti-riot vehicles there to maintain order. Over 1,000 further central paramilitary jawans and anti-riot automobiles arrived in the northeastern state yesterday.

Internet is still suspended and trains to Manipur have been cancelled with immediate effect on Friday due to the prevailing situation in the state.

MoS Education and Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Manipur, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh assured that the situation is under control and credited the central paramilitary force and others for quelling the violence.

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also addressed the situation. “Home Minister Amit Shah is monitoring the situation. I also received calls from chief ministers of many states,” he remarked.

The West Bengal government has issued helpline numbers for people stranded in Manipur.

An all-party meeting was underway to assess the situation in the state in which the CM asked for the support of all political parties.

Increased vigilance and aerial monitoring are also in place along the India-Myanmar border to foil any attempts by insurgent organisations residing in camps across the border.

Candidates who were given exam centres in Manipur have had their NEET (UG)-2023 exams postponed and their exam will be held at a later date which has not been disclosed yet.

Meanwhile, on Friday, armed gunmen shot dead a CRPF CoBRA commando who was on leave in his village in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. Following the death of constable Chonkholen Haokip, the CRPF on Friday ordered all Manipur-native personnel who were on leave in their home state to return right away to the closest security base with their families.

In a separate incident, on Friday night, two different encounters in the Churachandpur district resulted in the deaths of five hill-based terrorists and the injuries of two India Reserve Battalion (IRB) soldiers.

They were killed in a clash between security forces and the latter in Saiton in the Churachandpur district, according to the police. At Torbung, the insurgents opened fire on security personnel, forcing them to retaliate. Two IRB jawans were hurt and one insurgent was killed during the exchange of gunfire.

Clash in the Delhi University area

The aftereffects of Manipur violence have reached Delhi, where a group of Kuki students who live near the Delhi University North Campus complained that on Thursday night, a group of Meiteis attacked them.

They claimed that they attempted to file an FIR at the Maurice Nagar Police Station the following day, on Friday, and that after the police declined to do so, the students protested in front of the station. A few students have been detained in connection with this, according to police, who said that the issue is now under control and that action has been taken.

Background of the violence

The first incident of violence erupted in the Churachandpur district on April 27 when a crowd organised by the ‘Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) set a recently built gym/sports complex on fire a day before Chief Minister N Biren Singh was supposed to inaugurate it.

The tribal groups were protesting against the proposed survey of reserved and protected forests and wetlands by the state administration and the demolition of three unauthorised churches.

Security forces responded swiftly to the situation, however on May 3, All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) organised a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the Torbung neighbourhood of Churachandpur to protest the demand for the Meitei community to be classified as a Scheduled Tribe (ST). Tyres and other items were set ablaze by protesters on the highways, which sparked arson and mayhem.

Similar demonstrations in support of the march were held in numerous places throughout Manipur, many of which descended into violence. Both the non-tribal Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur regions and the tribal-dominant Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts experienced violent outbursts.

Curfew was implemented in 8 districts, mobile internet was suspended and Army along with Assam Rifles did flag marches in several affected areas.

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