Violence flares up again in Manipur, one soldier killed in encounter, 4 injured

The violence that started between the Kuki and Meitei communities on May 3 is not taking the name of stopping. More than 35,000 soldiers are deployed in the state, yet the extremists have not been able to control them. In many areas like Imphal, Churachandpur, and Vishnupur, the sound of gunfire is heard at regular intervals. Because of this, the common people of these areas have become used to living in fear. In Bishnupur, the militants again resorted to indiscriminate firing in which a jawan lost his life. At the same time, the matter of 4 people getting injured in the firing between the two communities is also coming to the fore.

The situation in Manipur was improving when on the evening of 19th July, the video of the atrocities being done with two women by a mob went viral, after which the situation started deteriorating again. A group of armed militants then set ablaze at least 10 vacant houses and a school in the Torbung Bazar area of Churachandpur.

Police said that hundreds of women were walking in front of the mob of militants, which gave the impression that these women were acting as human shields for the armed militants. He said that in the attack by the mob, there was rapid firing and crude bombs were hurled. Now such incidents are coming to the fore continuously, the Center and the Biren government are looking completely helpless in front of the extremists.

The army had demanded AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Protection Act) amidst the ongoing caste violence in Manipur. Indian Army and Assam Rifles units are present in Manipur. But due to the absence of AFSPA, the army is maintaining law and order in Manipur but is not able to take any action. That's why it is being demanded.

In the ongoing caste violence in Manipur, more than 145 people have lost their lives and around 3500 people are injured. A total of 123 columns of the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles have been deployed in Manipur since May 3, at the behest of the Chief Minister, to control the situation. But due to the absence of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the army is maintaining law and order in Manipur with full force but is not able to take any strong action.

Let us tell you that, for the first time, clashes broke out on May 3 after the tribal solidarity march was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The Meitei community constitutes about 53 percent of Manipur's population and mostly lives in the Imphal Valley. The tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute 40 percent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 35,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed to restore peace in the state.

But despite lakhs of efforts, no improvement is being seen, due to which the common people are facing a lot of problems. So far, more than 145 people have lost their lives in this violence and more than 3500 people have been injured. The Modi government at the Center and the Biren government in the state have so far failed completely on this issue.