Manipur violence: Govt issues ‘shoot at sight’ orders; 55 army columns deployed
Manipur government on Thursday issued a ‘shoot at sight’ order in “extreme cases” to contain spiralling violence in the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages. Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain widespread rioting that broke out across Manipur.
The Army also kept some 14 columns on standby for deployment in case the situation flared up again, a defence spokesperson said. The Centre, which monitors the situation in Manipur, also dispatched teams of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised force to handle riots, for deployment in violence-hit areas of the Northeastern state.
Clashes broke out on Wednesday which intensified overnight with counter-attacks being mounted by rival communities in retaliation to earlier attacks, after Naga and Kuki tribals organised a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to protest moves to give scheduled tribe status to the majority Metei community.
The notification signed by the Commissioner (Home) of the state government was issued under provisions of the criminal procedure code 1973. The army and Assam Rifles staged flag marches in the Khuga, Tampa, and Khomaujanbba areas of Churachandpur.
Flag marches were also carried out in Mantripukhri, Lamphel, Koeirangi area of Imphal Valley, and Sugnu in Kakching district on Thursday, the defence spokesperson said.
So far, 9,000 people have been rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter, the spokesperson said, adding that more people are being shifted to safer places.
