High alert in Manipur: more Union troops deployed after clashes and protests
After six bodies were found over the weekend, protesters stormed the homes of local BJP lawmakers. The Union government is sending thousands of special forces, while the Union Home Affairs minister tries to resolve the situation peacefully. For the archbishop emeritus of Imphal, the government is “only watching".
Imphal (AsiaNews) – The State of Manipur is on high alert after the authorities recovered the bodies of three women and three children over the weekend. All six were reportedly ethnic Meitei.
Some Meitei immediately accused the Kuki minority of kidnapping and murder, reigniting violence. Clashes between the two ethnic groups broke out in May 2023 and recur regularly.
According to official sources, more than 200 people have been killed so far and about 60,000 have been displaced, with more killings in recent weeks, particularly in Jiribam district.
It is estimated that at least 20 people have died in clashes in the last month. To terrorise members of the rival group, people are often abducted.
After the discovery of the bodies, some protesters on Saturday looted and set fire to the homes and offices of several legislators, mostly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Hindu ultranationalist party in power at the Union (federal) and state level in Manipur.
Police arrested 23 people and the authorities imposed an indefinite curfew, suspending Internet services in several districts, including the state capital, Imphal.
India's Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah, who has tried in recent months to start talks to resolve the situation, chaired a security meeting yesterday, but tensions continue to be high.
At least one person died this morning in fresh clashes between civilians and armed forces.
According to local media, the minister will hold other meetings today in an attempt to contain the unrest.
The Union government has also reintroduced a law allowing the deployment of special forces in five districts, including Jiribam.
These areas, which according to some witnesses have already been largely depopulated, will remain classified as "disturbed" until 31 March next year. Meanwhile, the authorities today ordered the deployment of another 5,000 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to the state.
“In the peripheries of where we are, shootings, kidnapping, etc. are going on,” laments Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Lumon of Imphal, speaking to AsiaNews. “In some isolated places there are crimes, protestors, rallies and even killings by one group. The government is unable to do anything and is only watching, thinking that it will die down by itself. However, the kidnappings and killings continue”.
On the reintroduction of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the prelate said: “We feel it should be totally removed. It gives absolute powers to the Army and in that sense, it is a serious matter.”
What is more, “This Act is imposed only in certain areas and not in all areas. With this Act, the security forces can take the law into their own hands and use their powers indiscriminately."
On Saturday, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep concern about the “The recent string of violent clashes and continuing bloodshed in Manipur,” urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state.
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20/07/2023 14:42
04/08/2023 20:09
