Central forces deployed in violence-hit Manipur amid Jiribam unrest, deaths

Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the meeting to review the situation in Manipur.

After the meeting, a team from the ministry will visit violence-hit areas shortly to help state officials in managing the situation, media reports said.

Violence continues in Manipur after a protester was killed as security forces opened fire in the Jiribam district which is witnessing a spate of unrest, media reports said.

K Athouba, 20, was killed after security forces opened fire to disperse a crowd at around 11 pm at Babupara. Another person sustained injuries.

In another incident of violence, a mob ransacked and set furniture on fire from local party offices of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress.

Days ago, the armed militants had attacked the CRPF post at Jakuradhor and Borobekra Police Station in Jiribam. One CRPF constable, named Sanjeev Kumar, was injured in the attack.

Prior to that, two elderly persons were found dead at a house that was set on fire by the militants in Jiribam.

In a counter to the militants' firing, the security forces had launched an encounter that killed 11 suspected Kuki militants.

Citing the 'volatile' situation in Manipur, the central government has reimposed the Disturbed Areas Status under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in six police station areas of the state.

The six areas include Jiribam where violence broke out recently.

AFSPA empowers the military to operate anywhere in a 'disturbed area' and no security personnel in an AFSPA area can be prosecuted without the Centre's approval.

In a notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday imposed AFSPA declaring the areas under Sekmai and Lamsang police stations, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong, Moirang as "disturbed areas".

Between 2022 and 2023, the MHA had lifted AFSPA from all these regions citing "improved law and order situation".

More than 200 people died and about 50,000 others displaced after the ethnic clash between the Meiteis and Kukis broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023.

Approximately 53 percent of the population in Manipur comprises Meiteis, residing predominantly in the Imphal Valley, while the remaining 40 percent consists of tribal communities such as Kukis, residing primarily in the hill districts surrounding the Valley.

In the wake of the violence, the National People's Party (NPP) has withdrawn its support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pinning blame on the saffron party for allegedly not being able to find a solution to the crisis in the state.

In the last assembly elections, the BJP had emerged as the single largest party with 32 of 60 seats, NPP 7 and Congress 5.