Imphal, Manipur (Reuters) – Over 50 women sustained minor injuries as Central security forces and police clashed with protesters in various valley districts of Manipur. The demonstrators were demanding the release of five armed individuals who were arrested last week. Shockingly, the arrested suspects were found wearing police uniforms at the time of their apprehension.
The Meira Paibi, a collective of Meitei women, had called for filling the jails after a 48-hour deadline passed, which included a shutdown in the valley districts. Their primary demand was the immediate release of the detained individuals.
Violence erupted in several parts of the state around 1 p.m. on Thursday, with the residence of the officer-in-charge of Singjamei police station in Imphal West being vandalized by a mob around 3.15 p.m. In response, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), the Centre’s anti-riot police, fired tear gas shells near the Singjamei police station to disperse the agitated crowd.
The five arrested men, currently in judicial custody, are scheduled to appear in court on Friday. Their detention stems from reports of extortion threats, misuse of police uniforms, and impersonation by armed individuals, according to a police statement dated September 17. The arrests on September 16 took place at Kongba near Meitei Mayek School in Imphal, sparking disturbances across all five valley districts since September 17.
On Thursday, hundreds of women descended on police stations throughout the valley, urging the authorities to detain them as well. These women claimed that the five arrested men were village protection volunteers.
Soibam Memcha, a prominent woman leader, declared, “We had demanded the release of these volunteers, but the government has turned a deaf ear. The Kukis also have their village guards, and there have been no reports of Kuki arrests, including Kuki leaders.” The women activists in Imphal vowed to persist until the release of the detained individuals.
In anticipation of further agitation, the district administration curtailed the relaxation of curfew hours in Bishnupur.
Ethnic tensions have plagued Manipur since May 3, particularly between the tribal Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. The ongoing crisis has claimed the lives of at least 175 people and displaced thousands from their homes.
In response to these events, the entire Imphal valley will remain under curfew on Friday, according to a government order.
In another development, the Manipur government issued a show-cause notice to telecom operator Airtel after mobile data services were found to be operational on a few phone numbers in the hill district of Churachandpur and adjoining areas of Bishnupur district on September 20. Mobile data services have been blocked in Manipur since May due to the prevailing law and order situation, with access granted only to those numbers included in a government-prepared “whitelist.”
The notice by T. Ranjit Singh, Commissioner (Home) of the Manipur government, calls on Airtel’s Chief Technical Officer in Imphal to explain the circumstances behind this lapse and why legal action should not be taken for violating government orders, including the total ban on telecom services.
News Summary:
- Violent protests erupted in Manipur as over 50 women were injured while demanding the release of five armed individuals arrested last week.
- The arrested suspects were found wearing police uniforms, raising questions about their affiliations and activities.
- The Meira Paibi, a collective of Meitei women, had called for jail filling after a 48-hour deadline demanding the detainees’ release.
- Ethnic tensions between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities have plagued Manipur since May, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements.
- The entire Imphal valley remains under curfew in response to the ongoing crisis.
- Airtel faces a show-cause notice from the Manipur government for allowing mobile data services on unauthorized numbers, potentially aggravating the law and order situation.