Imphal, May 22 (). Fresh violence broke out in Manipur’s Imphal East district on Monday, with the army and paramilitary forces beefing up security while curfew relaxations were curtailed.
A police officer said some armed miscreants went to New Chacon area of Imphal East and threatened shopkeepers to close their shops and torched two houses.
As soon as this news spread, people from other communities came forward and challenged him. The irate mob even thrashed one of the miscreants, while others managed to escape. However, two miscreants have been taken into police custody.
To control the situation in Imphal, the district administration has reduced curfew relaxation period by three hours in both Imphal East and Imphal West districts.
The Manipur government on Sunday night extended the suspension of internet services till May 26 to check spread of rumours, following reports of arson and attacks.
The government had earlier suspended internet service on May 3. Unprecedented violence had broken out in 10 of the state’s 16 districts during a tribal solidarity march called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to protest the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.
Several organisations, including the opposition Congress, and the media have been demanding immediate restoration of internet service in Manipur.
So far 71 people have died in caste violence in Manipur, 300 people including policemen have been injured. Over 25,000 people were displaced, around 1,700 houses were burnt and over 200 vehicles were destroyed.
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