Manipur in Crisis: Curfew Reinstated Amidst Bloodshed as Violence Resurfaces in Thoubal and Imphal West Districts

Imphal, January 01, 2024: Tensions escalated in Manipur as the state government reinstated curfew measures in the Thoubal and Imphal West districts on Monday following a resurgence of violence. Clashes erupted between unidentified armed miscreants and locals in the Lilong area of Thoubal district on Monday evening, resulting in four reported casualties, with the bodies yet to be recovered.

Local reports indicated that armed miscreants indiscriminately fired upon civilians during the clashes, intensifying the security situation in the region. In response, authorities swiftly reimposed restrictions in Thoubal and Imphal West districts to quell potential unrest.

An official order from the District Magistrate of Imphal West’s office stated, “Due to the developing law-and-order condition in the district and to prevent any untoward incidents and also loss of life and property and further as a precautionary measure, the curfew relaxation order dated 31st December 2023 stands cancelled, and full curfew is imposed in all areas of Imphal West District with immediate effect.”

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh addressed the situation in a video message, urging residents of Lilong to refrain from causing further violence and emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility. Singh asserted that stringent action would be taken against the perpetrators, and additional police personnel would be deployed to ensure the area’s security.

“The state government will not take the incident lightly. More police will be deployed in the area to arrest those culprits,” stated Chief Minister Singh.

The recent outbreak of violence adds to the prevailing ethnic tensions in Manipur, which have been simmering since May 3, 2023, triggered by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ protesting against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The unrest was preceded by conflicts over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, sparking a series of smaller agitations.

Manipur, home to Meiteis, Nagas, and Kukis, has seen ethnic clashes claiming over 180 lives. The deployment of over 10,000 army and para-military personnel was necessary to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. The situation remains fluid, and authorities are actively working to prevent further escalations and restore peace to the region.