State limping back to normalcy; curfew partially relaxed
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 09 2023:
Strife -torn Manipur is limping back to normalcy even as the Army and central paramil-itary forces continued their vigil in the sensitive areas, while the authorities relaxed curfew in four districts, including the most volatile Churachandpur district, for four hours on Tuesday morning.
However, mobile internet service will continue to remain suspended till May 13 .
Relaxation in curfew was extended in the violence-ravaged districts of Manipur for the fourth day on Tuesday, citing an improved situation with the deployment of Army and central forces along with state forces in all the vulnerable and mixed-populated areas.
On the advice of the state authority, the district administrations relaxed curfew in four districts -- Imphal West, Thoubal, liribam, and Churachandpur -- for four hours on Tuesday to enable
people to procure essentials.
A senior official said that subse-quent relaxations of curfew shall be reviewed and notified based on assessment of the prevailing law and order situation.
With steady improvement in the situation across the state and relaxation of curfew for few hours, people in the twin capital cities and outlaying districts thronged the markets and shops to replenish stock of essentials on Tuesday.
People turned up in large num-bers in markets and shops to buy essential items during the hours curfew was relaxed.
"The situation is improving all over the state, with no reports of violence in the last 24 hours.
The curfew has been relaxed for four hours in Imphal West and Imphal East from 5 am today.
Similar re-laxation is being provided in the other nine affected districts," a senior official said.
Vehicles, including auto-rick-shaws, were also seen on the road in Imphal in the early hours.
Long queues of cars and other vehicles were seen outside petrol pumps in different parts of the state.
Violent clashes broke out in the state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The clashes were preceded by tension over eviction of Kuki vil-lagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of small-er agitations.
The state government has been initiating various measures to bring back stranded people from different parts of the state such as Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Imphal West, Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts with SPs concerned di - rected to identify vulnerable areas and ensure round-the-clock pro-vision of full-proof security and protection for land and property, in the absence of their owners.
Deployment of Army, central paramilitary forces will continue, mobile internet suspension will remain in place, and total public curfew under Section 144 of CrPC, 1973, prohibiting movement of any person outside his/her home, will remain imposed in several districts.
(with inputs from Agencies ) .
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