India eases curfew in violence-hit Manipur
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Smoke billows after a standoff between mob and security forces at Sekhon in Imphal East during ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur state.
PHOTO: AFP
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GUWAHATI - Indian authorities said on Sunday they had started to relax a curfew imposed in violence-hit Manipur after 45 days of civil unrest in the north-eastern state, seeking to reduce anger spilling onto the streets and restore normalcy.
“We have decided to remove curfew from 5am until 5pm to enable residents to buy food, medicines and other essentials,” said Ms Diana Devi, a local government official based in the capital city of Imphal, not far from the border with Myanmar.
Manipur has experienced widespread violence since May 3, following protests by Indigenous communities
Meiteis, the dominant community in the low lands of the state, who account for half of the state’s population, demand extension of limited affirmative-action quotas to them. But Kukis fear it would mean Meiteis would get a greater share in education and government jobs reserved for them.
Last week’s federal Home Ministry records showed that 83 people were killed and more than 60,000 residents have been displaced by the violence since May.
On Thursday, a federal minister’s house in Imphal was set on fire .
Neighbouring states, which have provided shelter to the displaced population, appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to release funds needed to feed the refugees.
Leaders from the opposition party accused the government of Mr Modi of failing to contain the crisis in a state governed by his party. “We believe that if the Prime Minister takes action, then peace in Manipur can be restored in 24 hours,” said Dr Nimaichand Luwang, an opposition lawmaker in Manipur.
A senior Home Ministry official in New Delhi said at least 32,000 security personnel will continue to support local police until normalcy is restored. REUTERS
