The Manipur government has issued “Shoot at sight” ordered by the Manipur government as violence in the state spread to its capital of Imphal. Security has been strengthened with the deployment of 55 army columns. The Rapid Action Force has also been flown in along with state police trying to control the situation since Wednesday.
The violence started on 26th of April during a protest march by tribals against the Manipur High Court order backing the inclusion of Meities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST). It had incensed the Naga and Kuki tribals. More than 9,000 people have been shifted from violence-hit areas by local administration. A spokesperson said around 5,000 people have been shifted to safe homes in Churachandpur, another 2,000 people were shifted to Imphal Valley, and 2,000 people to the border town of Moreh.
Over the last few days, there have been multiple appeals for peace as visuals of violence and arson flooded social media platforms, but nothing concrete came out yet. Curfew has been imposed in eight districts so far with mobile internet services been suspended across the state. Government agencies are yet to issue any statement on numbers of people affected or killed so far in the week long violence.
Earlier yesterday , CM N Biren Singh said that “the situation in the state was moving towards normalcy”. And “The government is taking all measures to maintain the law and order for protecting the lives and property of all.”
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