The Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed in Manipur and mobile internet has been suspended for five days by the state government to bring under control the worsening law and order situation after tribal groups took out rallies in several districts of the state.
There is a ban on large gatherings as well as night curfew imposed in several districts of the state.
In view of the situation, a curfew has been imposed in non-tribal-dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts, and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts.
The Meiteis, who make up 53 per cent of the state’s population, inhabit the valley, which accounts for about a tenth of the former princely state’s land area. They claim they are facing problems in view of “large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis”.
The hill districts which account for much of the state’s land mass is inhabited mostly by tribals – including the Nagas and Kukis – and are protected from encroachment by various laws.
Meanwhile, boxing champion Mary Kom wrote on Twitter that her state is burning and sought help from the government and media establishments. Talking to India Today, Mary Kom said, “The situation is very bad, no one is safe. We want peace and harmony.”
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM), which is spearheading the movement for the inclusion of Meiteis in the ST category said the demand is being made not merely for reservation in jobs, educational institutions, and tax relief but “more to protect our ancestral land, culture and identity”, which they claimed was being “threatened by illegal migration from Myanmar, Bangladesh and by people from outside the state”.
