Tezpur (Assam): Manipur violence was triggered by Kuki underground activities and it was also backed by Myanmar's People's Democratic Forum (PDF), alleged Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Keisham Meghachandra Singh. Tension still prevails in peripheral areas of Manipur.
The epicentre of violence was Imphal, Churachandpur and Moreh town situated in the bordering area of the state. On May 3, violent clashes broke out between members of the tribal and majority Meitei community. In the violence-marred Manipur, at least 23,000 people were displaced and at least 60 were killed in the clashes. Whereas 200 people were injured, and 5,000 were shifted to a safe zone, official sources said.
Manipur Congress state president further alleged that more than 1,000 people belonging to Meitei and Kuki communities living in camps under the protection of Assam Rifles near Moreh. "The state government has not done anything for them. The state government remained a mute spectator to the incident," he said.
The central para-military forces have been deployed after the violence spread to the entire Manipur. The Central government's implementation of Article 355 was just on paper. Tension has been prevailing in on the outskirts of Imphal city, Churachandpur, bordering areas of Moreh town and its nearby places.
Singh said that a team from MPCC met the Manipur Governor and submitted a memorandum highlighting the deteriorating law and order in the state. "The Congress party has been demanding President's Rule in the state as people have lost faith in the present government. The evacuation was not done by the state government. It was Assam Rifles, Army and local organisations, which were at the forefront in shifting the people to safer places," he said.
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Asked about a viral video wherein agitators were found looting arms and ammo from police, Singh said that it was true. "The looted arms and ammo were used against local people by the agitators." He said that the curfew has been relaxed in some parts. "But people are facing problems in getting essential commodities and fuel crisis is one of the major issues," Singh alleged.
