Manipur Violence News Highlights: AFSPA extended as protests continue over students' killing incident

India imposed curfew in the capital and some areas of its restive state of Manipur on Thursday, after scores of students were injured in violence following protests against the alleged abduction and murder of two students, authorities said.

Ethnic violence has plunged the northeastern state bordering Myanmar into what many security experts describe as an intense civil war fought over land, jobs and political clout between its two largest local groups.

A Christian social activist from Mizoram, Alinery Lianhlawng, told the United Nations that the narratives peddled by the international media on Manipur violence hold no ground and India’s northeast region has rich ethnic diversity.

Speaking during a general debate at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Alinery said, “Being an indigenous woman from the NE of India, I have the privilege to shed light on the Manipur conflict and the Government of India’s firm resolve to bring back peace and normalcy in the region."

“Manipur, with a population of 2.8 million, is home to more than 35 communities, the majority of them can be classified into three main ethnic groups- the Meiteis, the Nagas and the Kukis. Geographically, the state can be divided into two parts-Imphal valley and hill areas,” she said in her intervention. (ANI)

Violent protests continued to rock Manipur’s capital for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Chief Minister N Biren Singh of quick action in dealing with the culprits responsible for kidnapping and killing two youths.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA was extended by another six months in Manipur on Wednesday barring 19 police stations falling under the Imphal valley and an area that shares its boundary with neighbouring Assam.

Curfew was also re-imposed in two districts of East and West Imphal as the Biren Singh government combatted violent protests which saw 65 demonstrators being injured over two days. (PTI)

Amid renewed violence in Manipur triggered by the killing of two students, the Union Home Ministry took the step of transferring senior Police officer Rakesh Balwal back to the northeastern state from Srinagar.

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With an aim to restore normalcy in the northeastern state that has been disrupted due to clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 3, the Manipur government is likely to adopt a ‘one district, one force’ arrangement for better coordination of security forces.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that in solidarity with the riot-affected people of Manipur, arrangements have been made in the southern state for students from there to continue their higher studies.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for premature repatriation of Shri Rakesh Balwal, IPS from AGMUT cadre to Manipur cadre,” read a notification as quoted by HT. 

The situation remained calm but tense in Singjamei area of Imphal on Wednesday morning after a clash between students and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel left 45 protesters injured the previous night.

Manipur Police, CRPF and RAF personnel were seen deployed in strength throughout Imphal Valley in anticipation of possible protests and violence.

The police station areas where the Disturbed Areas Act has not been imposed are Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Pastol, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingagng, Lamlai, Iribung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakchin and Jirbam.

Hill areas of Manipur were again placed under the stringent Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act while 19 police stations mainly comprising areas in the valley have been kept out of its purview.

In an official notification issued on Wednesday, it was stated that "Governor of Manipur hereby accords approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations...as 'Disturbed Area' for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2023."

"Since 1-1.5 months there has been no exchange of fire from either side, and peace is being restored. A sad incident took place, where a Meity girl and a boy were missing from July 3. We tried to trace them and finally handed over the case to CBI on August 28. A viral video surfaced yesterday where the bodies of the two missing youths were found," CM N Biren Singh said while speaking to ANI.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday expressed grief over the deaths of two youths in Manipur and demanded strict action against the culprits.

"The Congress party expresses condolences over the deaths of these two students. We want the culprits to be arrested as soon as possible. We want the government to take strong action against them,” he told ANI.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday expressed grief over the deaths of two youths in Manipur and demanded strict action against the culprits.

"The Congress party expresses condolences over the deaths of these two students. We want the culprits to be arrested as soon as possible. We want the government to take strong action against them,” he told ANI.

‘Every morning, we used to put a plate of breakfast on his table and hoped that he would return home one day', said the parents of a 17-year-old student who was allegedly killed by armed miscreants in violence-hit Manipur.

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Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be providing security to the team of Central Bureau of Investigation which is visiting the violence hit areas in Manipur.

"Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been given charge of security of CBI teams visiting various locations in Manipur for investigation purposes and collection of evidence," a senior official told ANI.

On Wednesday, a CBI team led by Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar reached Imphal to investigate the alleged kidnapping and killing of two students days after they went missing.

"My heartfelt condolences to the grieving families of the two young souls in Manipur. The pain and sorrow reflected in the cries of their mothers have deeply affected me. It is disheartening to witness the state government's refusal to accept responsibility and the central government's failure to ensure accountability. The recent violence against peaceful student protesters in Imphal is unacceptable," Mamata Banerjee posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The Congress on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur situation, accusing him of inaction and demanding that he sack the BJP's "incompetent" chief minister as a first step to control the turmoil.

The opposition party alleged that Modi was not concerned about the people of Manipur but his image, and was busy campaigning for elections while the situation in the state "has gone from bad to worse".

Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured him that those who had kidnapped and killed the two Manipuri youths will be arrested and punished.

A team of CBI officials, led by the agency's Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, has reached Manipur and started the probe into the crime which has rocked Imphal valley and led to two days of violent protests by students and youths on the streets of the state capital, leading to more than 60 people being injured.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday condemned the police action on protesting students in Manipur and hit out at the Centre and the N Biren Singh government, alleging that they failed to control the situation there arising out of the killing of two youths.

She also asserted that the police action on students, who hit the streets of the Manipur capital to protest against the kidnap and killing of the two youths, was "unacceptable".

The BJP on Wednesday termed the alleged kidnap and murder of two students in Manipur as "gory criminal act" and assured that the perpetrators will not be spared.

A CBI team led by Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar reached Imphal on Wednesday to investigate the "kidnapping and killing" of two students days after they went missing, sources said.

"Two students who were kidnapped in July and murdered in Manipur is a gory criminal act, the perpetrators of which will never be spared," BJP’s national spokesperson and in-charge of northeastern states Sambit Patra wrote on X.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing violence situation in Manipur. He demanded that BJP's ‘incompetent’ chief minister should be sacked.

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A Central Bureau of Investigation team, led by the agency's Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Imphal in a special flight earlier today to investigate the alleged "kidnapping and killing" of two students, Sources said.

The two boys had reportedly gone missing in Manipur on July 6.

Manipur has again been placed under the stringent Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, starting 1 October. According to official notice, the AFSPA will remain in force for another six months in strife-hit Manipur. Meanwhile, 19 police stations mainly comprising areas in the valley have been kept out of its purview.

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In July, two sets of parents were left seeking answers after their children daughter, Luwangbi Linthoingambi Hijam, and the other’s son, Phijam Hemanjit Singh went missing.

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With an aim to restore normalcy in the northeastern state that has been disrupted due to clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities since May 3, the Manipur government is likely to adopt a ‘one district, one force’ arrangement for better coordination of security forces.

Read more here

The Manipur government has imposed a full curfew in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, in view of the precarious law and order situation.

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An angry mob Wednesday burnt down the mandal office of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Thoubal district in Manipur. The BJP office was targeted by a large group of protesters who vented their fury over the alleged kidnapping and killing of two students in the state, the India Today reported.

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A Christian social activist from Mizoram, Alinery Lianhlawng, told the United Nations that the narratives peddled by the international media on Manipur violence hold no ground and India’s northeast region has rich ethnic diversity.

Speaking during a general debate at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Alinery said, “Being an indigenous woman from the NE of India, I have the privilege to shed light on the Manipur conflict and the Government of India’s firm resolve to bring back peace and normalcy in the region."

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be providing security to the team of Central Bureau of Investigation which is visiting the violence hit areas in Manipur.

"Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been given charge of security of CBI teams visiting various locations in Manipur for investigation purposes and collection of evidence," a senior official told ANI.

Violent protests continued to rock Manipur’s capital for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Chief Minister N Biren Singh of quick action in dealing with the culprits responsible for kidnapping and killing two youths.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA was extended by another six months in Manipur on Wednesday barring 19 police stations falling under the Imphal valley and an area that shares its boundary with neighboring Assam.