Army deployed in India’s Manipur after tribal rally sparks fresh violence

Kathmandu: Army has been deployed in the Indian state of Manipur after the tribal rally sparked fresh violence on Wednesday.

The violence broke out on Wednesday during ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis people, who dominate the Imphal Valley, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Thousands of tribal people had turned up at the solidarity march. Earlier, the ATSUM said the rally was organised to register a protest against ‘persistent demand of Meitei community for inclusion in ST category and the support to this by valley legislators’ and ‘the need for taking appropriate measures to collectively protect tribal interests.’

The Army and Assam Rifles were deployed to control the situation in Manipur, a defence spokesperson said on Thursday. So far, 4,000 people were rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter, he said, adding that more people are being shifted to safer places.

In view of the situation, curfew was imposed in non-tribal dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam and Bishnupur districts and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts.

Similarly, mobile internet services were suspended across the state for five days as tension ran high due to the sporadic incidents of violence.

The Meiteis, who make up over 50% of the state’s population, say their inclusion in ST category will give them, among others, equal right on land. They claim that they are facing problems in view of ‘large scale illegal immegration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis’.

Currently, the tribal people can buy land in the Imphal valley, which is around 10% of Manipur, but people belonging to the Meitei community cannot do so in the hills.

The hill districts which account for much of the state’s land mass is inhabited mostly by tribal communities — including the Nagas and Kukis – and are protected from encroachment by various laws.

Following the clashes in several parts of Manipur on Wednesday night, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the incidents were a result of a ‘prevailing misunderstanding between two communities’ and appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with the government to maintain law and order.