Guwahati/Imphal
Tension continued to increase in strife-torn Manipur following the recovery of bodies of the 6 missing Meiteis, suspected to have been abducted and killed by Kuki militants who had attacked a relief camp of the non-tribal community on November 11. The bodies, including that of an eight-month-old child, were recovered from the Barak River in Jiribam.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has canceled his scheduled election rallies in Maharashtra and returned to Delhi to take stock of the deteriorating law and order in the northeastern State.
Late on Saturday, a mob, protesting alleged Government inaction in the case of killings, tried to barge into the personal residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh prompting security forces to fire tear gas shells to disperse them.
For its part, a Meitei civil society body issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the State government demanding decisive action against armed militant groups.
“All the representatives of the states and all the MLAs should sit together and take some decisive action to resolve this crisis as soon as possible. If they don’t take any decision up to the satisfaction of the people of Manipur, then they will bear the brunt of the people’s discontentment. We have set a 24-hour ultimatum for the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to take some decisive action and military crackdown against all armed groups,” said Khuraijam Athouba, spokesperson of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei civil rights group.
Civil society groups are also opposing the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police station areas saying the law granting sweeping powers to security forces has only deepened the mistrust and anger among the local population.
Earlier, protesters on Saturday attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs. Among the targets was Chief Minister Singh’s son-in-law, BJP MLA RK Imo Singh. Protesters vandalised the MLA’s home and set his property on fire. Similar attacks were reported at the homes of Municipal Administration Minister Y Khemchand and Consumer Affairs Minister L Susindro Singh, with security forces resorting to tear gas to quell the mobs.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sapam Ranjan’s residence too came under attack. He assured the protesters he would raise their demands in a cabinet meeting and even resign if the government failed to act decisively.
Curfew has been imposed in five districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching. Internet services have been suspended in seven districts for the next two days.
