Manipur Violence: As fresh violence erupts, a senior police officer ordered back to state

Digital Desk: The Union Home Ministry has decided to repatriate senior IPS officer Rakesh Balwal to the northeastern state as Manipur struggles with a surge in violence following the kidnapping and murder of two students.

Rakesh Balwal, who is currently posted as Senior Superintendent of Police in Srinagar, was ordered by the Center to return back in Manipur. According to sources, Balwal will now serve in Manipur to assist in the violence-stricken state.

Nearly a month after the recommendation from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved this, citing the need for extra officers given the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur.

Fresh violence, led by students, broke out in Imphal on Tuesday after images of the bodies of Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17), who went missing in July, went viral on social media. The two are said to have been abducted and brutally killed.

Officials reported that on Wednesday night, demonstrators and security officers engaged in conflict in the communities of Uripok, Yaiskul, Sagolband, and Tera. To control the situation, the troops fired several rounds of tear gas shells.

According to the protesters, in order to stop the security forces from approaching residential areas, they barricaded roadways with burning tires, stones, and iron pipes. Additionally, a crowd set two four-wheelers on fire and vandalized the DC office. The situation was stabilized by CRPF men, they added.

As the security forces combat the violent protests, which have injured almost 150 students since Tuesday, a curfew was imposed in Imphal East and West.

On Wednesday, N. Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur, reportedly received assurances from Union Home Minister Amit Shah that those responsible for the kidnapping and deaths of the two students would be arrested and punished. The case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).