IT News
Imphal, Sept 10:
With rising tensions in Manipur, the district administrations of Imphal East, Imphal West, and Thoubal have imposed curfew orders with immediate effect due to the deteriorating law and order situation. In separate directives, officials announced the curfew, which began at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and will remain in effect until further notice. Restrictions have been placed on movement across the three districts, though exemptions have been made for personnel involved in essential services such as healthcare, public health engineering, municipal services, power sector workers, petrol pump staff, court officials, flight passengers, and media persons.
Despite the curfew, protests erupted as students from Manipur University burned effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Security Advisor Kuldip Singh in front of the university’s main gate. The protest rally, organized by the COCOMI Students’ Front, proceeded from the Manipur University campus along the Imphal-Moreh highway, heading towards Singjamei.
The demonstrators carried banners with bold slogans such as “Stop Indian Proxy War Against Meetei,” “Stop India’s Policy to Annihilate Meetei,” “Go Back Central Security Forces,” “We Will Administer Our Land,” and “Stop Divide and Rule Policy.” The protestors expressed their frustration over what they perceived as the central and state governments’ silence on the ongoing conflict and alleged bias against the Meitei community.
One of the student protestors voiced concerns about the perceived external aggression involving drugs, migration, and sophisticated weapons in the state, criticizing the government for failing to take decisive action. She accused the Center of engaging in a proxy war against the Meitei community, citing alleged support for Kuki-Chin narco-terrorists. The protestor further questioned why mass security operations were being conducted in the valley region, suggesting bias in how the central and state security forces handle the conflict.
As the rally reached Kakwa area, tensions escalated when police intervened to prevent further movement. Despite attempts to control the crowd, the situation intensified, and police resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the students involved in the clash.
