Assam Rifles Jawan, Shot During Manipur Violence, Succumbs To Injuries

GUWAHATI: The Assam Rifles jawan who was shot by some miscreants while patrolling in the midst of the Manipur violence on May 10, succumbed to the bullet injuries at Kolkata’s Command Hospital on Wednesday (May 17).

The incident happened last Wednesday, when the jawan was wounded in the miscreants’ firing in Dolaithabi of Manipur East district. A team of the Assam Rifles was patrolling the area when the incident took place.

The jawan was immediately rushed to a hospital, even as the miscreants fled the area.

Upon his condition deteriorating, the soldier was later moved to the Army’s Command hospital in Kolkata.

This happened to be the first incident where security personnel were targeted in Manipur ever since violent clashes broke out between the Kuki tribals and non-tribal Meitei community.

Meanwhile, 128 Army and Assam Rifles columns have been deployed in Manipur in order to restore peace and maintain the precarious law and order situation.

The violent unrest in Manipur broke out on May 3, after a Kuki tribal group’s protest march led to clashes with the non-tribal Meitei community. The protest was organised to oppose the recent Manipur High Court order, which had asked the state government to send a recommendation to the Centre in connection with the demand to accord Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the majority and predominantly Hindu Meitei community.

Meanwhile, the Manipur government Tuesday, extended the internet ban till May 20.

A directive from Manipur's Home Department read as follows:"Police communication suggests that there are still reports of incidents like fighting amongst volunteers and youths of major communities residing in the state with reports of arson of houses. There is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state of Manipur."

"To thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of life or danger to public or private property, it has become necessary to take adequate measures to maintain law and order in public interest, by stopping the spread of disinformation and false rumors, through various social media platform such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter besides others, on mobile phones and Short Message Service (SMS), for facilitating and mobilization of mobs, agitators and demonstrators, which can cause loss of life and damage to public and private property by indulging in arson and vandalism and other types of violent activities," the order stated.

"Under the above mentioned reasons, in which the situation is likely to cause serious disturbances to the peaceful co-existence and maintenance of public order, do hereby order further suspension and curbing of mobile data service, internet and data services including broadband in the entire state of Manipur. The order is issued to prevent any disturbances of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of the state and shall be in force for another five days with immediate effect," the order further stated.

Also Read: Supreme Court Stays Manipur HC’s Order that Triggered Manipur Violence

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