Manipur violence: Article 355 invoked; over 20000 people evacuated

Dimapur: In view of the prevailing violence between two communities in Manipur, the government of India has imposed Article 355 in the entire state, empowering the Centre to take all necessary steps to bring the situation under control and protect the lives and properties of the people.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Director General of Manipur Police, P. Doungel said Article 355 was imposed after reviewing the overall situation in the state.

“The situation in Manipur is expected to be brought under control in a day or two,” the DGP said.

In an update, the PRO (Defence), Kohima and Imphal informed that Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Moreh and Kakching were under firm control with no major violence reported since Thursday night, while sporadic incidents of arson and blockade attempts were witnessed in Imphal East and Imphal West districts in the past 12 hours.

It added that more than 100 columns are working tirelessly towards restoring law and order in Manipur and rescued about 13,000 civilians, who are currently staying in various ad-hoc boarding facilities specifically created for the purpose within company operating bases and military garrisons.

Doungel said that some miscreants had looted arms from a police station in Bishnupur district and urged them to return the arms and ammunition failing which stern action would be initiated against them.

Another police officer from Imphal West updated at another event that seven arms and ammunitions, which were taken away by the mob during the violence, have been recovered from different locations in Imphal East district.

Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Ashutosh Sinha also told the media on Friday that over 20,000 affected people of different communities have been evacuated and sheltered in safer places.

Tight-lipped on casualties

It is reported that several people have been killed and injured during clashes between two communities in various parts of the state and Chief Minister N Biren Singh also said that precious lives have been lost but no official update has been made on the casualties till date.

The situation in Manipur turned volatile as thousands of tribals on Wednesday participated in the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.