The Manipur Governor on Thursday approved the state home department’s shoot-at-sight order after clashes broke out across the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community.
The order was issued in view of the prevailing law and order situation after incidents of violence were reported during Tribal Solidarity March on Wednesday, May 3.The Manipur Governor authorised all District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and all Executive Magistrates/ Special Executive Magistrates concerned to issue shoot at sight orders in “extreme cases whereby forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force, etc had been exhausted under the provisions of law under CrPC, 1973, and the situation can not be controlled”.
Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed while 14 columns have been kept on standby as the situation deteriorated in Manipur.So far, 9,000 people have been rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas, and given shelter, a defence spokesperson said on Thursday, adding that more people are being shifted to safer places.Violence broke out in several districts of Manipur on Wednesday during the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Thousands of agitators took part in the rally, during which clashes between tribals and non-tribals broke out.Following the violence, a curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur and mobile internet services were suspended in the entire northeastern state for the next five days.
