A night curfew has been imposed in various areas of Manipur, in addition to the restriction on big...
Digital Desk: The Manipur government shut down mobile internet in the state for the next five days to address the state's deteriorating law and order situation, following rallies by tribal groups in many districts.
Along with the prohibition on large gatherings, a night curfew has been imposed in several districts across the state.
Following the unrest in the Churachandpur district, thousands of people stood out today for the 'Tribal Solidarity March,' called by a student body in all ten hill districts of the state to oppose the Meitei community's inclusion in the ST category.
The march was sponsored by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to show opposition to the "persistent demands of the Meitei community for its inclusion in the ST category" that were gaining traction.
The Meiteis, who make up 53% of the state's population, live in the Manipur valley and complain about "large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis."
According to current law, Meiteies are not permitted to reside in hill areas.
Local bodies forced a total shutdown of markets and suspension of public transport from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Naga-dominated Senapati town, the district headquarters with the same name and located about 58 kilometres from the capital town of Imphal, to ensure that the maximum number of demonstrators participate in the rally.
Thousands marched in the procession, waving placards and shouting slogans opposing ST status for the Meitei community, according to police.
People defied prohibitory orders and gathered at the public ground in troubled Churachandpur, the state's second largest town, and marched to Tuibong peace ground to show their support for ATSUM, according to police.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in the town last week for an indefinite period following the violence in protest of the drive to displace residents from reserve forest areas.
Following the vandalism of a venue where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to speak, additional security forces were rushed to the town from other parts of Manipur to control the situation.
Similar rallies were staged in Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Noney, and Ukhrul, with participation from school children, according to the police.
Meanwhile, counter-blockades have been set up in valley districts, including Sugnu in Kakching district, in support of granting Meiteis ST status.
Protesters chanted chants calling for ST status for the village as well as the preservation of reserved and protected forests.
Until the report was filed, no untoward incident had been reported anywhere in the state.
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