Officials reported on Saturday that two people had been harmed during the nighttime altercations in Imphal town between mobs and security guards as well as attempts to burn the homes of BJP officials on fire.
Separate instances of automatic gunfire were reported throughout the night emanating from Kwakta in the Churachandpur district of Manipur and Kangvai in the Bishnupur district of Manipur.
Additionally, a burglary attempt was made at the Iringbam police station in Imphal West. Despite this, no weapons were taken.
The Army, Assam Rifles, and Manipur Rapid Action Force marched in unison across the state’s capital until after midnight to disperse potential protesters.
A crowd of around a thousand people assembled to try to set buildings on fire near the palace grounds.
The RAF deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Another mob made an attempt to burn MLA Biswajeet’s house on fire. However, an RAF column dispersed the crowd.
A second mob surrounded the BJP office in Sinjemai after midnight, but it was dispersed by an Army column and could do no harm.
Similar to this, several individuals made an attempt to vandalise Sharda Devi’s home in Imphal’s Porampet neighbourhood at around midnight. Security personnel were able to properly disperse the youths.
Earlier before on June 14, In Imphal East, nine people lost their lives and more than ten others suffered injuries.
On Wednesday, vandals attempted to set fire to Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen’s residence in Imphal West. There is some burn damage to his home.
On May 29, During his four-day trip, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with the state’s chief executive, N Biren Singh, as well as representatives of the civil society, women’s groups, tribal organisations, and security personnel.
A state peace commission would be established, according to Shah’s announcement. Days following the Home Minister’s declaration, the committee was established.
Why is Manipur burning and violence is becoming so destructive?
The conflict stems from the Meitei people’s long-standing quest for Scheduled Tribe designation under the Indian Constitution, which would grant them rights similar to those enjoyed other tribal communities.
A Manipur High Court ruling from April required the state administration to decide on the matter, ideally within four weeks. The Meitei demand was opposed by the tribal groups. All hill districts participated in a solidarity march organised by the All Tribal Student Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on 3 May.
Conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities erupted in and around the Churachandpur district, which borders the Imphal Valley, by the end of March.
On 3 May 2023; A protest between the Meitei people, who make up the majority in the Imphal Valley, and the tribal group from the nearby hills, which includes the Kuki and Zo peoples, resulted in an ethnic clash in the north-eastern state of Manipur in India.
Since the High Court ordered the state administration to consider adding the Meitei group to the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs), ethnic violence has persisted in the state for more than a month.
To stop the bloodshed, central paramilitary forces were stationed in the state, and they are still there today.
Although the national government opposed such a withdrawal, the Manipur Cabinet resolved in March to end the Suspension of Operation agreements with three Kuki militant organisations, including the Kuki National Army and the Zomi Revolutionary Army.
Additionally, a number of Manipuri organisations protested in New Delhi to demand the creation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the basis year, citing the anomalous population growth in hill regions.
When demonstrators clashed in the Kangpokpi area during a rally against the encroachment of tribal land in the pretext of reserved forests, protected forests, and wildlife sanctuaries, five people were harmed. This was the first instance of violence.
The state cabinet, however, declared that the government will not relent in its efforts to safeguard the state’s natural resources and to end the growing of poppies.
On 11 April; Three churches in the Tribal Colony neighbourhood of Imphal were demolished because they were “illegal constructions” on government property.
On 20 April 2023; The state administration was given the order to consider the Meitei community’s request to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list by a judge of the Manipur High Court. The Kukis were concerned that the Meiteis would be able to buy land in the forbidding steep areas thanks to the ST classification.
At least 98 individuals have died and more than 300 others have been injured as of June 14.
