It was a holiday in some parts of Manipur on Sunday because Meira Paibis, Meitei civil society groups, and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) called for a shutdown.
Nearly two weeks after a newborn and toddler were murdered by a rocket-like projectile in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, the state is still dealing with new outbreaks of violence and public demonstrations in valley areas.
On Sunday, shops and markets in some parts of Manipur stayed closed because of a shutdown ordered by Meira Paibis, Meitei civil society groups, and the Joint Action Committee (JAC). This was in response to the killing of a 4-year-old boy and his baby sister in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai village in Bishnupur, which is near the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district. As a way to protest, the children’s families have refused to take control of their bodies.
It happened hours after what happened in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai village. On April 7, 2019, a crowd broke into a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Gelmol village, Bishnupur. Three bystanders were killed and more than 20 were hurt when security guards opened fire.
In the meantime, hundreds of Meitei locals and members of civil society groups took to the streets, which led to fights with police in Imphal on April 18. Security troops used tear gas and lathi charges on marchers to keep them from spreading. On April 17, security guards in the Imphal West area are said to have also attacked medical staff.
Bishnupur, the start
An NGO called the Meitei Heritage Society, which protects and promotes the community’s history and culture, told ThePrint on Sunday that Meiteis are angry about the killings in Bishnupur and how the security forces have handled the situation since then. “People don’t trust each other anymore.” We won’t take the bodies of our children until the situation is properly looked into.
A spokesman said that the event on April 7 caused more protests by Meitei groups who wanted an official probe. A spokesman said that the protesters took to the streets on the night of April 18, and that police used “excessive force.”
At one point, on the night of April 18, tear gas was fired at a torch gathering in Sagolband, Imphal West. “Tear gas was fired, and many people were attacked and beaten up by police. Stones were also thrown.” There were also no CCTVs left, the source said.
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Imphal West SP Ksh Shivakanta Singh told ThePrint on Sunday
“Meira rallies have been held every night in different parts of Imphal for the past few days.” During some of these events, many antisocial people have done dangerous things while posing as critics.
“It has also been seen that a lot of the protesters are drunk or high on drugs.” He also said, “We’ve learned that some people who want to cause trouble are sending petrol or kerosene bombs, catapults and iron projectiles to these rallies.”
“Despite these provocations, security forces have been calm while dispersing the gatherings in order to avoid any collateral damage,” he said, adding that four security officers and four citizens were hurt in the fighting on April 18.
Meanwhile, he asked everyone who follows the law to work with the police to keep the peace and not do anything illegal like fighting, destroying public property, or breaking other laws. People who are violent and people who start fights will both be charged with crimes, he said.
When asked about the claims, a top police officer from Manipur said that the protesters were scattered with “minimal force.”
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), which was created after what happened at Tronglaobi, ordered a five-day shutdown in the valley areas on Sunday, the officer said.
Another top police officer said that things are still tense.
“There have been protests ever since the terrible event on April 7 in which two children were killed.” Three guys were also killed by the CRPF, which made things even worse. When a lot of people get together, the cops break them up. There are also fights because of this, and people get hurt when the cops use lathi charges.
When asked about the attack on healthcare workers, Romen Yendrembam, owner of Kangleicha Ambulance Service, told ThePrint over the phone on Saturday, “The day before, when we were bringing a ventilator patient, the security staff stopped us in the middle of the road.”
The Meitei Heritage Society said in a statement that the protests are “a result of the rage and frustration that has built up because the security forces have failed over and over again to protect civilian lives from “the ongoing campaign of terror by Kuki rebels targeting Meitei civilians.”
The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) had earlier this month said they were “profoundly grieved and deeply condole the families of the two Meitei minor children who tragically lost their lives in a bomb explosion in the early hours of this morning at Tronglaobi, Bishnupur, Manipur.” They had not yet made a new statement.
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