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| India-Pakistan | |
| Over 50 dead as ethnic clashes erupt in India's restive Manipur | |
| 2023-05-07 | |
| [GEO.TV] The corpse count of ethnic festivities among tribal groups in India's remote northeastern state of Manipur has reached 54 after another night of violence as the country's armed forces struggle to enforce law and order. Reportedly, thousands of troops were dispatched to Manipur state after violence broke out amid a protest staged by a tribal group on Wednesday. Internet was jammed, while law enforcers were allowed to shoot at sight orders but only in "extreme cases" to force the fighting factions to walk away from violence. AFP quoted local police as saying that a tense calm prevails after a recent scrap on Friday night, while according to The Press Trust of India, the total tally of the dead in the hospital morgues in the state capital Imphal and Churachandpur district further south has reached 54. "Sixteen bodies were kept in the morgue of the Churachandpur district hospital while 15 bodies were in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East district," PTI reported, citing an unnamed local official. "The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences at Lamphel in Imphal West district reported 23 dead." Manipur Director General of Police P Doungel told news hounds on Friday that security forces were bringing the situation under control. Army patrols had "gone a long way to quell the thing off", he said. Security forces and the Manipur government have yet to issue an official corpse count for this week's violence. But India's law minister Kiren Rijiju told news hounds today that "many lives have been lost" after days of festivities alongside damage to property. The suspension of internet services has slowed down the flow of information from Manipur and the current situation on the ground after the latest festivities on Friday is not clear. An Indian army unit based in neighbouring Nagaland state said 13,000 people had sought shelter from the violence "within military premises". On Thursday, security forces fired tear gas in Imphal to disperse protesters, some of whom had set alight vehicles and houses in parts of the city. Charred vehicles were seen on streets otherwise empty due to the imposition of a round-the-clock curfew. Defence officials said Friday that additional troops had been brought into the state by road and air.
The curfew imposed under section 144 of the CrPC will be relaxed from 7 am to 10 am, it said. It was also relaxed on Saturday for two hours from 3 pm to 5 pm. "With the law and order situation improving in Churachandpur district and after talks were held between the state government and various stakeholders, I'm pleased to share that the curfew will be partially relaxed as per the details shared below," Chief Minister N Biren Singh tweeted on Saturday night, sharing a copy of the notification. The curfew was imposed on May 3 after The curfew was imposed on May 3 after The notification issued by Churachandpur district magistrate Sharath Chandra Arroju said, "Subsequent relaxations shall be reviewed and notified based on assessment of the prevailing law and order situation." The festivities broke out after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the ten hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 percent of the population and live mostly in the hill districts. MANIPUR VIOLENCE: DEATH TOLL CROSSES 50 The corpse count in the violence-hit Manipur increased to 54. Of the 54 dead, 16 bodies were kept in the morgue of the Churachandpur district hospital while 15 bodies were in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East district, news agency PTI reported quoting officials. CHIEF MINISTER BIREN SINGH HOLDS ALL-PARTY MEET Manipur CM N Biren Singh chaired an all-party meeting on Saturday to take stock of the prevailing situation in the state. The situation is tense but being kept under control by the Indian Army and paramilitary forces, who are working together to restore peace in the violence-hit areas. "Held an all-political party meeting to discuss the current situation in Manipur and to collectively work towards bringing peace and stability to the state. During the meeting, it was resolved to appeal for peace in the state, and encourage all citizens to avoid any actions that could lead to further violence or instability," Singh was quoted by PTI as saying. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Why is it ethnic clashes there, and racism here? |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2023-05-07 18:46 |
| #1 CNN: Skirmishes first broke out after thousands of tribal people took part in a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur, against the potential inclusion of majority Meitei ethnic group in India’s “Scheduled Tribe” grouping. The Meitei community, who make up about 50% of the state’s population, have for years campaigned to be recognized as a scheduled tribe, which would give them access to wider benefits including health, education and government jobs. Scheduled tribes are among the most socio-economically disadvantaged groups in India and have historically been denied access to education and job opportunities. If the Meitei community are given scheduled tribe status, other tribal groups say they fear they will not have a fair chance for jobs and other benefits. |
| Posted by: Tarzan Grolump8219 2023-05-07 12:05 |