Manipur's Churachandpur town has become the epicentre of clashes between people and police personnel, with fresh clashes breaking out on Friday night and security forces using batons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob.
The clashes took place hours after the eight-hour bandh called by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) to protest against the eviction of Kuki villagers from protected forests. There are reports that there are casualties, but there has been no official confirmation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter to condemn the police action in the state.
While entire Team Modi is fixated on Karnataka, Churachandpur in Manipur has turned into almost a war zone only a year after the BJP got a decisive majority in the state. The double engine there is blowing up! Neither the Union govt or the national media is bothered about it. pic.twitter.com/RFktOOe4es
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 28, 2023
Situation in BJP ruled Manipur is disturbing. Violence is no solution to any issue.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 29, 2023
Law and Order has been completely derailed in the state under double engine Govt.
BJP is hellbent to trample and bulldoze the rights of vulnerable indigenous communities. We strongly condemn it.
The ITLF claimed that despite the repeated submission of memorandums to the government protesting an ongoing eviction drive to clear reserved forested areas of farmers and other tribal settlers, "the government has shown no sign of willingness or sincerity in addressing the plight of the people".
The state government has shown no sign of willingness or sincerity in addressing the plight of the people, the forum alleged.
Clashes, violence continues
Even as night curfew was imposed in the district from Saturday, officials said, unidentified persons torched the office building of the Range Forest Officer in Tuibong area around midnight. Several fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames.
Public property worth lakhs were reportedly destroyed and official documents burnt in the blaze, a police officer said.
Earlier, clashes erupted between demonstrators and police at Sadbhavna Mandap in New Lamka in Churachandpur district, the venue of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's public meeting.
The chief minister, however, deferred the visit following protests and the call for the bandh.
Stone throwing by protesters, firing of tear gas shells and rubber bullets by security personnel were reported from areas such as New Lamka, Tuibong Bazaar, Sielmat bridge, Lanva bridge and T. Champhai, police sources said.
CM's event venue set on fire
The chief minister was scheduled to inaugurate an open gym at PT Sports complex in New Lamka town. However, on Thursday, a protesting mob had attacked the venue and set fire to about 100 chairs and other equipment.
Following the incident, prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC was clamped and mobile internet services were suspended in Churachandpur district.
Singh said his plans to visit Churachandpur have been deferred after the local legislator who had invited him decided to postpone the event.
Singh also questioned the "indigenousness" of the ITLF. "What indigenous people? We are indigenous people. Nagas are indigenous people. Kukis are indigenous people. What indigenous tribal?"
Slew of resignations
The state has been seeing a slew of resignations from administrative posts by BJP legislators, with Uripok MLA Khwairakpam Raghumani resigning from the chairmanship of Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA).
He is the fourth MLA of the ruling party in Manipur to do so this month.
In his resignation letter to CM Singh, Raghumani said he was quitting the post for "personal reasons, and also in the public interest, it is felt that my continuance as chairman of MANIREDA is not called for at this juncture".
The state unit of the saffron party has been hit by a series of resignations of MLAs from their administrative posts, triggering speculations of trouble in the Biren Singh government.
On April 8, Thokchom Radhesyam resigned from the post of adviser to the chief minister, which was followed by the resignation of Langthabal MLA Karan Shyam on April 17 from the chairmanship of Tourism Corporation Manipur Limited.
Both the legislators had cited "not being given any responsibility" as the reason for their resignation.
Wangjing Tentha MLA Paonam Brojen resigned from the chairmanship of Manipur Development Society on April 20, citing "personal reasons".
The CM, after holding a BJP meeting on April 21, claimed there was "no crisis in the party".
