13,000 people were saved from the Manipur conflict, and the Army took control of four districts
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05-05-2023 : Manipur, a northeastern state of India, was rocked by violent clashes between the Meitei community, who mainly reside in the Imphal Valley, and the Naga and Kuki tribals living in the hill districts, leaving several scores of people dead and nearly a hundred injured. Violence erupted during a tribal solidarity march organized by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday to protest the demand of Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. An armed mob allegedly attacked people of the Meitei community in Torbung, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated the violence throughout the state.
The Indian Army and the Assam Rifles deployed nearly 10,000 soldiers in the state, and the Centre dispatched additional security forces and anti-riot vehicles to maintain peace. Altogether 36 bodies, stated to be victims of the clashes, were brought to the morgue of the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Imphal West district, and many people with bullet injuries were being treated at RIMS and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences. The army rescued and shifted to safe shelters a total of 13,000 people, bringing four districts under its firm control.
Intermittent gunfights between militant groups and security forces were reported in the morning hours from various hill districts surrounding the valley, but a wary peace seems to be reigning there since. In the past 12 hours, Imphal East and West districts witnessed sporadic incidents of arson and attempts by inimical elements to establish blockades, but the situation was controlled by a firm and synergized response, according to a Defence official. The army is conducting flag marches in Churachandpur and other sensitive areas.
The violence has displaced over 2,500 people from their homes, and trains to Manipur have been canceled. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation in Manipur with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and top officials. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of the population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, account for another 40 per cent of the population and live mostly in the hill districts surrounding the Valley. Two shopping malls in Imphal city were vandalized and torched by an angry mob, while a tribal MLA was critically injured and was undergoing treatment at a hospital after he was assaulted by a mob.
