IMPHAL: The situation in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur remains grim. The Indian Army announced on Friday that the situation in violence-torn Manipur had been brought under control thanks to coordinated efforts by all stakeholders.
According to the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force flew continuous sorties from two airfields in Assam, using C17 Globemaster and AN 32 aircraft. "Induction began on the night of May 4th, and additional columns began dominance with effect from the early hours of May 5," the army claimed.
Meanwhile, the Northeast Frontier Railway has halted all Manipur-bound trains due to the law and order situation. "No trains are allowed into Manipur until the situation improves." According to Sabyasachi De, CPRO of NF Railway, the decision was made after the Manipur government advised to halt train operations. Four trains were cancelled. Initially, the Indian Railways made this choice exclusively on May 5 and 6.
According to media sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah would not travel to Manipur on Friday. On Thursday, Shah met with the chief ministers of Manipur and adjacent states, as well as top national and state officials via video conference, to examine the state's situation.
According to reports, At least 13 people were killed in two days of mob violence in Manipur as a result of a huge protest by the northeastern state's tribal populations to the Meiteis' desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation.
At least 11 people have died as a result of the violence, hundreds have been injured, and numerous houses and properties have been razed or burned down.
The Northeast Frontier Railways has cancelled all Manipur-bound trains following an advisory from the Manipur administration to halt train movements due to violence in the state. In extreme circumstances, rioters have been ordered to be shot on sight. Mobile internet and broadband services in the state have been suspended, and over 9,000 individuals have been evacuated from conflict zones. After new arson cases were reported, the Army and Assam Rifles were heavily deployed.
Meanwhile, in response to the state's deteriorating law and order situation, an order was issued Thursday to shoot rioters on sight in extreme cases. The Army was called in to quell the situation after it erupted overnight in tribal lands as they resisted the government's attempt to enrol the majority Meitei group on the scheduled tribe list.
Vungzagin Valte, a BJP MLA, was beaten by a mob on his way back from the state secretariat after meeting with Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday. This comes amid a deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur, where violence has erupted between tribals and the state's majority Meitei people. Valte, a three-term MLA from Thanlon in the Pherzawl district, was on his way to his official residence in Imphal when he was attacked.
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