A day after protests erupted in Manipur over the arrest of a leader of Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol, situation remained tense on Sunday with the administration imposing prohibitory orders in five Imphal valley districts and suspending internet services in parts of the northeastern state, police said.
As a preventive measure, prohibitory orders have been clamped in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching districts, while internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN facilities, have been suspended in these valley areas.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday held a security review meeting with senior officials in the wake of violent protests. A Raj Bhavan statement said the governor also met a delegation of MLAs who apprised Bhalla of the current law and order situation in the state.
“The governor held a security review meeting with senior administrative and security officials. During the meeting, a comprehensive discussion and review of various matters relating to the current law and order situation in the state were deliberated,” it said.
The security advisor, the director general of police, the commissioner (home), the secretary to the governor, the additional director general of police (law and order), IGAR (S), the inspector general, CRPF and other senior officials were present during the meeting.
“Today, a group of MLAs called on Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, at Raj Bhavan during which the MLAs apprised the governor of the current law and order situation in the state and requested his intervention to help find an amicable solution,” the Raj Bhavan statement said. The Governor told the delegation that all “necessary steps are being taken to address the concerns and to restore normalcy”, it said.
Protesters torched tyres and old furniture in the middle of roads in Kwakeithel and Uripok, demanding the release of the leader. They clashed with security forces at different places in the State capital on Saturday night.
A mob also set a bus on fire at Khurai Lamlong in Imphal East district.
Security has been enhanced along the roads leading to the Raj Bhavan here with additional deployment of central forces. In view of the protests in the restive northeastern State, an order issued by the district magistrate of Imphal West stated that the “superintendent of police in Imphal West... Has reported serious breach to peace, disturbance to public tranquillity, riot or affray in the area, and grave danger to human lives and properties due to unlawful activities of anti-social elements.”
The district administration banned the assembly of five or more people and the carrying of sticks, stones, firearms, or sharp weapons under sub-section 2 of Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). In Imphal East district, people have been prohibited from stepping outside their residences from 10 pm on Saturday, until further orders under sub-section 1 of section 163 of BNSS.
“Violent protests broke out after the arrest of a leader of Arambai Tenggol. All preventive measures are in place,” a police officer said. In Kwakeithel, several gunshots were heard, but it could not be ascertained who fired the shots.
Protesters also gheraoed the Imphal airport gate at Tulihal after the arrest of the Arambai Tenggol leader.
They took to the streets along the airport road and blocked the thoroughfare to prevent any possible attempt to take the arrested leader outside of the State. Elsewhere, members of Arambai Tenggol poured petrol over themselves in symbolic protests against the arrest.
BJP legislator K Ibomcha, who was part of the delegation, claimed after the meeting that altogether five people were arrested in connection with earlier incidents of violence, which triggered widespread protests in the northeastern State since Saturday. Among the five arrested people, one was apprehended by the CBI, he said.
The CBI said it has arrested a member of the Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol at Imphal Airport on Sunday for his alleged involvement in various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023, while the police did not disclose details of the four others.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.
The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President’s rule in the northeastern State after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. The State Assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.
