Team News Riveting
Imphal, May 4
The Centre has invoked Article 355 of the constitution in Manipur as the situation in the violence-hitstate deteriorated on Thursday.
Article 355 of the Constitution deals with an emergency provision by which the Centre can intervene and protect a state against external aggression or internal disturbance. Fresh incidents of arson and violence were reported in the hills and valley areas following Wednesday’s Tribal Solidarity March.
Earlier violence broke out during the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the All Tribal Student Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in the Torbung area of Churachandpur district on Wednesday to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who dominate the Imphal Valley, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Thousands of tribals — who make up about 40 per cent of the state’s population — joined the processions, waved placards and raised slogans opposing ST status for the Meitei.
The Chief Minister, N Biren Singh chaired a high level meeting to review the law and order situation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has appointed Kuldip Singh as an advisor to the Chief Minister to tackle the worsening situation in Manipur. Singh is the former DIG of the National Investigation Agency and the Central Reserve Police Force.
Earlier in the day, Manipur Governor authorised all District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and all Executive Magistrates/Special Executive Magistrates to issue Shoot at sight orders ‘in extreme cases whereby all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force etc has been exhausted’.
A total of five companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) of the CRPF were flown to Imphal on Thursday. The Army and Assam Rifles carried out flag marches in the violence-affected areas.
Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Rawat, Defence PRO Guwahati, said columns of the Army and Assam Rifles were brought in to control the situation on Wednesday night. “The violence was arrested by the morning. Approximately 4,000 people were given shelter in Army and Assam Rifles Company Operating Bases and state government premises at various places. Flag marches are being conducted to keep the situation under control,” Rawat said.
The Imphal-Churachandpur road has been secured by security forces to prevent any further violence or disturbances in the area.
