Curfew Imposed in 3 Manipur Districts Including Imphal Amid Ongoing Students Protest

Imphal: As the students protests in Manipur 's Imphal district continue against violence in the state, the state government has imposed a curfew in three Manipur districts - Imphal West, Imphal East and Thoubal. While curfew in Thoubal had been imposed yesterday, for the other two districts, the order has come in today.

Manipur Violence: Curfew Imposed in 3 Districts amid Students Protests

As the students protests in Manipur state enter the second day, against the violence, more particularly attacks by suspected Kuki militants, a curfew has been imposed in three districts of the state, namely, Imphal West, Imphal East and Thoubal.

The government order reads, “Whereas, the Office of the undersigned had issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Ngarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for restriction of the movement of any person(s) outside their respective residences from 1st September, 2024 until further order; Whereas, this office had issued for curfew relaxation from 05:00 AM to 10:00 PM of 10th September, 2024 (Tuesday) vide Order No. Cril Misc Case No. 4 of 2024 dated 9th September, 2024. Now, in supersession of all earlier order issued in this regard, the curfew relaxation period for 10th September, 2024 (Tuesday) is hereby lifted with effect from 11:00 AM of today i.e. 10th September, 2024.”

An indefinite curfew, preventing people from coming outside their houses, was clamped in Imphal East and West districts, while prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS were imposed in Thoubal. "Due to the developing law and order situation in the district, earlier orders of curfew relaxation stand cancelled with immediate effect from 11 am of September 10. Hence, there is total curfew in Imphal East district with immediate effect until further orders," an order issued by the district magistrate said. The prohibitory orders in Thoubal prevented the assembly of five or more persons as police claimed that at least one personnel was hit on the thigh by a bullet fired from among the protesting students in the district on Monday.

Who is Exempted from Curfew in Manipur ?

The state government, in its order has also specified who all will be exempted from this curfew. The order reads, “All persons belonging to essential services such as Health, Electricity, PHED, Press & Electronic Media and Court, shall be exempted from further imposition of curfew after the expiry of the said period of relaxation.”

Students Protest Against Violence in Manipur

Meanwhile, hundreds of students from various schools and colleges spent the night at camps set up at Khwairamband Women Market in Imphal. The students, in their uniforms, were helped by women shopkeepers to set up camps at the market. "We have given a 24-hour deadline for Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya's response to the six demands we have placed. We will decide our future course of action after the deadline ends," student leader Ch Victor Singh told reporters on Tuesday morning.

Thousands of students protested in front of the Manipur Secretariat and Raj Bhavan on Monday, demanding action against those behind the recent drone and missile attacks, and calling for the protection of the state's "territorial and administrative integrity". At least eight persons have died and over 12 injured in a fresh wave of violence, which included drone and missile attacks. Later, the students met Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor Acharya. 

Student representatives who met Acharya later told reporters that they have placed six demands, including the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) and the security advisor to the state government for their alleged failure to control the violence. They also called for the Unified Command, currently chaired by former CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, to be handed over to the state government.

(Inputs from PTI)