Tensions mount in Manipur: Amit Shah cancels Vidarbha rallies, CRPF Headquarters rushes to Imphal; Important updates

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has canceled his planned rallies in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region and will return to Delhi after fresh unrest broke out in Manipur. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Anish Dayal also left for Manipur from Delhi to assess the security situation in the state, which has been tense for over a year.

Tensions have risen in Manipur after the bodies of six people were found in Jiribam, reportedly abducted and killed by militants. On Saturday, protesters targeted the residences of government ministers and members of parliament, looting and setting fire to some of them. Protesters tried to attack Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s house, prompting security forces to respond with tear gas to disperse the crowd in Imphal.

Violent protests led to an indefinite curfew and suspension of internet services. Six victims went missing from the Jiribam displaced persons camp on Monday following a gunfight between militants and security forces that left 10 rebels dead. While the bodies of two women and a child were found in the Barak River on Saturday, the remaining three bodies, including a woman and two children, were found on Friday night.

On Sunday morning, debris from Saturday’s protests was still scattered on the streets of Imphal. Protesters attacked the houses of three state ministers and six MLAs, including the residence of RK Imo, a BJP MLA and Prime Minister Singh’s son-in-law. Security forces fired tear gas bombs at many points in the city to disperse the demonstrators.

The targeted ministers are Sapam Ranjan, L Susindro Singh and Y Khemchand, an official said. A curfew was imposed in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching districts due to the “evolving law and order situation”. Internet services were also stopped in 7 districts due to attacks on officials’ residences.

Besides Imo, protesters also damaged the houses of BJP MLA Sapam Kunjakesore and MLA Joykishan Singh. They also gathered outside the houses of JD(U) MLA T Arun from Wangkhei and BJP MLA Karam Shyam from Langthabal. When a group of protesters visited Keishamthong’s Independent MLA Sapam Nishikanta Singh’s house on Tiddim Road and found out that he was not there, they targeted the office building of a local newspaper owned by him, damaging temporary structures outside the building.

Protesters set fire to tires on a road in Thangmeiband, about 200 meters from the state parliament building. Police used tear gas on the Keisampat Bridge to disperse protesters who were trying to march towards important government buildings, including the Raj Bhavan and the secretariat.

Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi ordered suspension of internet and mobile data services in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur for 48 hours from 5.15 pm on Saturday.

The Coordination Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), representing various civil society groups in the Imphal Valley, has called for military action against the militants within 24 hours. During the night, miscreants set fire to at least two churches and three houses in Jiribam, and there were unconfirmed reports of further arson and property damage.

COCOMI spokesperson K Athuba called for the immediate repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which was recently reintroduced in areas covered by six police stations. The bodies of 10 Kuki-Zo youths killed during Monday’s gunfight were taken to Churachandpur on Saturday from Assam’s Silchar, where autopsies were performed.