The Manipur government has suspended mobile internet in the state for the next five days to address the deteriorating law and order situation after tribal groups staged protests in several districts of the state.
Along with the ban on large gatherings, a night curfew has also been imposed in several districts of the state.
Amidst the troubles in Churachandpur district, thousands turned out today for the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the student body in all the ten hill districts of the state to oppose the demand to include Meitei community in ST. category.
The All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM), which called for the march, said it was organized to express opposition to the “stubborn demands of the Meitei community for inclusion in its ST category”.
The Meitis, who make up 53% of the state’s population, live in the Manipur Valley and claim to be facing hardships due to “large-scale illegal immigration of Myanmarese and Bangladeshis”.
Meiteins are prohibited from settling in the hill areas as per existing law.
In the Naga-dominated town of Senapati, the district headquarters of the same name, about 58 km from the capital city of Imphal, local authorities have forced markets to close completely and public transport to stop from 10 am to 1 pm to ensure maximum attendance at the rally. number of protesters.
Thousands of people joined the processions, waved placards and raised slogans opposing ST status for the Meitei community, police said.
In Churachandpur, the state’s second largest city, people defied prohibitory orders and gathered in a public place and demonstrated up to Tuibong Peace Square to show their support for ATSUM, police said.
An indefinite curfew was imposed in the town last week following violence protesting a drive to evict villagers from reserve forest areas.
Additional security forces have been rushed to the city from other parts of Manipur to control the situation following vandalism at the venue where Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was scheduled to speak on the programme.
The police informed that similar demonstrations were also held in Tennupal, Shandel, Kangpokpi, Nonei, Ukhrul, in which even school students participated.
Meanwhile, counter-blockades were carried out in valley areas, including Sugnu in Kakching District, in support of granting ST status to the Meiteis.
The protestors shouted slogans demanding ST status for the community and preservation of reserved and protected forests.
No adverse incidents have been reported from anywhere in the state till the submission of the report.
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