In violence-hit Manipur, Army, Assam Rifles rescue 4,000 people, conduct flag marches

Manipur,May 4 :  The Army and Assam Riffle personnel have been deployed in several affected districts in Manipur after violence broke out during a “Tribal Solidarity March” called by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area of Churachandpur to protest the demand of Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The Army conducted area domination exercises on Wednesday night to restore law and order in the state.

The Manipur government suspended the mobile internet across the state for the next five days and clamped curfew under Section 144 CrPC in various districts with immediate effect after violence.

The Army and Assam Rifles were requisitioned on the nights of Tuesday and Wednesday and the violence was brought under control by this morning.

As many as 4,000 villagers were given shelter in the Army and Assam Rifles contingency operating base (COB) and state government premises at various places. Army personnel also conducted flag marches in the area to bring the situation under control.

“So far, 4,000 people were rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter and more people are being shifted to safer places,” an official told PTI.

“Flag marches are being conducted to keep the situation under control,” a defence spokesperson told PTI.

Boxing Champion Mary Kom wrote on Twitter that her state is burning and sought help from the government and media establishments.

Violence broke out during the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by ATSUM to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who dominate the Imphal Valley, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Thousands of agitators took part in the rally, during which violence between tribals and non-tribals was reported in the Torbung area, a senior police officer said.

ATSUM said the rally was organized to express dissent to the “persistent demands of the Meitei community for its inclusion in the ST category” gaining momentum. Several incidents of violence were reported in Manipur during the rally.

As per reports, many protesters were seen burning tires and other objects on the isolated roads of Torbung Village in Tuibong Tehsil area in Churachandpur district.

Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to control the situation, an officer told PTI.

Curfew was imposed in non-tribal dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam and Bishnupur districts and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts.

-PTI