Indian Army and Assam Rifles Deployed as Violence Hits Manipur’s Churachandpur District
On May 3, there were reports of confrontations and acts of arson in the districts of Churachandpur and Bishnupur, both of which are located in the state of Manipur. Through the process of performing flag marches, the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles have been asked to maintain law and order and bring order to the chaotic situation. In addition, buildings belonging to the Army, the Assam Rifles, and the Manipur government have provided temporary housing for around 4,000 impacted persons.
Following a solidarity march organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in opposition to the Meiteis’ pursuit of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Manipur, violence erupted in these regions. Multiple tribal organizations are purportedly united in their opposition to this demand because they worry it will lead to the forfeiture or dilution of their rights and benefits.
A total curfew has been imposed in the Churachandpur district, which has been experiencing a lot of unrest recently, particularly in the Kangval, Tuibong, and Chaurachandpur subdistricts. However, while tensions remain, the authorities are making efforts to return the area to its previous state of calm and normalcy.
