Manipur: Shoot at Sight Order Passed After Law & Order Situation Worsens

IMPHAL: An order to shoot at sight has been issued in violence-hit Manipur on Thursday, following further deterioration of the law and order situation.

The Northeastern state of Manipur continued to burn following a series of violent protests over the ongoing tribal solidarity march by All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM), agitating against the inclusion of the Meitei community’s in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.

Manipur’s law and order situation went for a toss on Wednesday following a wave of violent protests that took place over the killing of a surrendered militant in an alleged fake encounter.

The ‘Shoot at sight’ order stated, “In view of the prevailing law and order situation following the unwanted incidents that occurred at the Tribal Solidarity held on May 3, 2023, and in order to maintain public order and tranquillity in the State, the Governor of Manipur has authorized all District Magistrates, Sub- Divisional Magistrates and all Executive Magistrates/ Special Executive Magistrates detailed by the District Magistrates concerned to issue shoot at sight orders in extreme cases whereby all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force, etc had been exhausted under the provisions of law under CrPC, 1973 and the situation could not be controlled.”

Earlier on Tuesday, an indefinite curfew was clamped in Imphal after protests on the death of a 27-year-old former rebel in the alleged fake encounter turned violent.

Teargas shells were lobbed and the police resorted to caning the protesters, on top of firing in the air to disperse angry mobs hell-bent to creating trouble.

The situation is said to be under control at the moment, although a tense atmosphere still prevails in the state.

Around 11 civilians were reportedly injured, while two others are said to have succumbed to bullet injuries at Saikul under Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday.

The situation turned from bad to worse on Wednesday night, after clashes broke out between groups in several areas of Manipur’s hill districts during the so- called solidarity march organised by ATSUM in protest against the Meitei’s demand for inclusion in Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.

Additional paramilitary forces have been deployed to bring the situation under control, even while the situation continues to remain tense in Manipur.

In the meantime, Manipur Chief Minister Biren N Singh ordered a judicial probe into the incident on Wednesday and suspended six policemen in connection with the ineffectual handling of the situation.

Singh said in a press conference that further action would be taken based on the report of the judicial inquiry.

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