Manipur Sees Curfew Relaxation; Internet Restrictions Partially Lifted

Manipur witnessed a day of relative calm as no major incidents were reported from any district, prompting authorities to relax curfews in four Imphal Valley districts and partially lift internet restrictions.

On Tuesday, the officials however stated that curfew in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Kakching districts would be relaxed on Wednesday from 5 AM to 10 AM to allow residents to purchase essential items and manage urgent tasks.

The curfews had imposed indefinitely on 16 November following violent unrest triggered by the discovery of the bodies of three children and three women in Jiribam on 15 & 16 November.

Additionally, District magistrates issued notifications about the relaxation, reflecting an improvement in law and order.

The six deceased, members of the Meitei community, reportedly abducted on 11 November from a relief camp in Jiribam district’s Borobekra sub-division, allegedly by Kuki militants. Their deaths have heightened tensions in the region.

Internet Restrictions Eased For Broadband Services

The Manipur Home Department conditionally restored broadband internet services on Tuesday, three days after suspending them in nine districts.

The suspension had however caused difficulties for students, employees, healthcare services, and other essential operations.

However, mobile internet and data services remain suspended, according to Home Commissioner N. Ashok Kumar’s directive.

Protests Against AFSPA

Protests erupted in Imphal West district against the reimposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in six police stations across five districts. Civil society organizations held rallies demanding the rollback of the controversial law.

NDA MLAs Demand Action

On Monday night, 26 MLAs of the ruling BJP-led NDA coalition held a meeting and passed resolutions urging the central government to take decisive action.

The MLAs demanded a ‘mass operation’ within seven days to target Kuki militants allegedly responsible for the killings of six women and children in Jiribam.

The legislators also requested that the union government ban the militant groups involved and hand over three cases of violence to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The cases include:

• The killing of six Meitei women and children in Jiribam.
• The burning death of a Hmar tribal woman on November 7 in Jiribam.
• The murder of a Meitei woman farmer on November 9 in Saiton, Bishnupur district.

COCOMI Ultimatum

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella organization representing the Meitei community, expressed dissatisfaction with the resolutions adopted by the NDA MLAs.

Meanwhile, the group gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to review the resolutions and warned of escalating their agitation if no action followed.

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