Manipur: Assam Rifles Withdrawn From Checkpoint In Bishnupur, Replaced By CRPF

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• Aug 8, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Assam Rifles personnel have been withdrawn from the Moirang Lamkhai checkpoint in Manipur's Bishnupur, where new... 

Digital Desk: Assam Rifles personnel have been withdrawn from the Moirang Lamkhai checkpoint in Manipur's Bishnupur, where new violence occurred last week, according to a notification issued by the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order).

As per the notification, the Assam Rifles have been replaced by the CRPF and the state police. This comes at a time when several groups of women in valley districts staged an agitation on Monday, requesting the expulsion of the paramilitary force from the ethnically strife-torn state.

As reported by PTI, ADGP (Law and Order) L Kailun stated on Monday, "The checkpoint at Moirang Lamkhai on the Bishnupur to Kangvai Road shall be manned by the civil police and 128 Bn CRPF in place of 9 AR with immediate effect and until further orders."

On Monday, women's groups blocked a road near Hodam Leirak and Kwakeithel in Imphal West, as well as Angom Leikai and Khurai in Imphal East. On the other side, the administrations in Imphal East and West districts relaxed the curfew by two hours on Tuesday.

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The curbs were relaxed in Imphal East and Imphal West from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m., as per reports. It has been eased from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Thoubal district and from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kakching.

Since the ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, over 160 people have died and many more have been injured. The violence erupted after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for around 53% of Manipur's population.