A day after six civilians, including women and children, went missing, the Centre has directed the security forces to take necessary steps to restore peace and order in Manipur.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) noted that the security situation in Manipur remained "fragile" in the past few days.
Fresh violence erupted in Manipur last Monday after 11 suspected militants attacked a police station and adjoining CRPF camp in Jiribam district.
#WATCH | Imphal, Manipur: Women vendors protest as violence and tension prevails in the state after the kidnapping of 6 individuals and the bodies of 3 were found (not clear yet if they belong to the abductees) pic.twitter.com/91HCcaat8J
— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2024
Also, the bodies of a woman and two children, believed to be among those who went missing, were found in the Jiri river on Friday evening.
"Armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence, leading to an unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order. All the security forces have been directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace," the statement read.
Strict action would be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities, it said.
MHA also said that important cases have been handed over to the NIA for investigation.
Massive protests now erupting all across #Manipur following the abduction & brutal killing of 6 members of a family including an infant & 3 minor children by armed militants in #Jiribam #JusticeBeDone #TakeActionNow @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @India_NHRC pic.twitter.com/cIRMOKYlTC
— Binalakshmi Nepram (@BinaNepram) November 16, 2024
In the wake of the deteriorating situation, the Centre has reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur's six police station areas, including the violence-hit Jiribam on Thursday.
The fresh order came after the Manipur government imposed AFSPA in the entire state on October 1, barring 19 police station areas.
Amid tensions in the region, 20 additional CAPF companies comprising about 2,000 personnel were sent to Manipur on Tuesday.
More than 200 people have been killed and hundreds rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.
Protests after three bodies were recovered
Protests erupted in different parts of Imphal Valley on Saturday after three bodies were recovered.
Six people of a family--three women and three children--had gone missing from Jiribam's Borobekra after violence broke out in the area. Those gone missing are from the Meitei community and had been living in a relief camp set up at the Borobekra police station since June.
According to an official, the recovered bodies are yet to be identified by the family members. "The bodies were seen floating in the river," said the official.
The protesters mostly women blocked the main roads in Kwakeithel area in Imphal West district, Sagolband Tera in Imphal West district by burning tyres to prevent vehicular movement, police said.
Women vendors staged a protest rally against the killing at the Khwairamband market.
The state government declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Saturday.
The bodies were brought to Assam's Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) on Friday night and kept at the hospital's morgue for postmortem.
