• After protest by tribal group turns violent, Army carries out flag marches in Manipur

    Regional
    After protest by tribal group turns violent, Army carries out flag marches in Manipur

    The Army stated that efforts are being undertaken to evacuate impacted people and restore law and order.

    Digital Desk: Following
    reports of clashes in various parts of Manipur in connection with a tribal
    groups' mass rally, the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles conducted a flag march
    in the affected areas on Wednesday.



    According to an Indian Army statement,
    military and paramilitary soldiers were deployed in the area bordering Bishnupur
    and Churachandpur districts shortly after the skirmishes erupted. The Army
    stated that efforts are being undertaken to evacuate impacted people and
    restore law and order.



    "Army/AR columns with state police intervened in the night
    to control the situation." By the morning, the fighting had been stopped.
    Around 4000 villagers were given shelter in Army/AR COBs and state government
    premises in various locations. Flag marches are being held to keep the
    situation under control, according to the statement.




    This comes after the Manipur government imposed a curfew in most
    districts and halted mobile internet access throughout the state for five days
    beginning Tuesday, following a violent protest coordinated by the All Tribal
    Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM).
    Following an
    April 19 Manipur High Court directive, the tribal group was protesting the
    demand for inclusion of the state's Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe
    (ST) category. The development has reignited a historic ethnic schism in the
    state between the Meitei population and the hill tribes.