Indian Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his election campaign rallies in the poll-bound Maharashtra on November 18 to take care of the growing violence in Manipur. Sources said Shah would have an emergency meeting with senior officials later in the day to assess the situation in the disturbed state.
The north-eastern province of Manipur has been wracked by inter-ethnic fighting between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May last year, leaving at least 250 people dead and 60,000 displaced. The state has been virtually partitioned into two ethnic ghettos: the Meitei-ruled valley and Kuki dominated hills, bisected by no man’s land patrolled by federal troops.
Manipur police imposed a curfew in both districts of Imphal on Sunday till further notice after six bodies were found. After this incident, the state government also suspended internet services in seven districts. It was reported that curfews were imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East, and sporadic vehicle movements were seen, whereas security personnel were deployed in the area. Internet and mobile data services were suspended for two days in Imphal.
Security has been tightened outside the residences of Chief Minister Biren Singh and at the Raj Bhawan. Police on Sunday arrested 23 people for torching and damaging residences of legislators and ministers as violent demonstrations against the killings raged despite the imposition of curfew. The National Investigation Agency has taken over investigation of three major cases related to the violence in Manipur, following orders by the Indian Home Ministry.
The BJP’s ally, the National People’s Party, announced the withdrawal of support to the state government for failure of Chief Minister Singh to resolve the ongoing crisis.
