India’s Manipur - "unified command" !

India’s Manipur

• Hundreds of Meitei students took to the streets on Monday to protest against the drone attacks, calling for a change in the leadership of the state's "unified command" that oversees security.

• As protests spilled over into Tuesday, the local BJP government imposed a curfew in the Imphal Valley and surrounding districts and suspended internet services in five valley districts.

• At least 225 people have died and some 60,000 have been displaced since fighting broke out last year between the Meitei and Kuki communities over the sharing of economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education that are given to the tribal Kukis.

• Student leader Ch Victor Singh said that protesters gave Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya 24 hours to respond to a list of demands, which includes the removal of the top police official in the state and the security adviser for their failure to control the violence, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

ENB

India’s Manipur imposes curfew, 

cuts internet 

Authorities in India’s northeastern state of Manipur have imposed an indefinite curfew and blocked internet access following student protests against a new surge in the ethnic violence that has rocked the region for more than a year.

On Tuesday, a notice from the state’s Home Ministry ordered all internet and mobile data services to be shut off for five days to bring the latest unrest under control.

“Some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public,” the notice said.

A curfew was imposed in three districts of Manipur while the state government 

said that internet and mobile data services would be suspended until Sunday in 

order to curb misinformation and hate speech that could trigger more violence.

Manipur, a restive state of 3.2 million people tucked in the mountains on India’s border with Myanmar, has experienced periodic violence for more than a year between the predominantly Hindu-majority Meitei and the mainly Christian Kukis over economic benefits and government jobs and education quotas.

Despite a heavy army presence, the deadly clashes have persisted.

At least nine people have been killed and several injured in the last 10 days as armed groups launched drone attacks and rockets from homemade devices.

Hundreds of Meitei in the state capital, Imphal, defied a curfew imposed earlier on Tuesday to demand that security forces take action against Kuki fighting groups, whom they blame for the latest spate of attacks.

Student-led protests on Monday turned violent after the crowd threw stones and plastic bottles at security forces, police said in a statement, adding that protesters in another district snatched arms from police and fired at them.

On Tuesday, police lobbed tear gas at hundreds of students who attempted to march towards the Manipur governor’s house and demanded the restoration of peace in the state.

Students say they are frustrated with the government’s failure to resolve the 16-month-long conflict.

About 250 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced after mobs rampaged through villages and torched houses since last May.

Student leader Ch Victor Singh said that protesters gave Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya 24 hours to respond to a list of demands, which includes the removal of the top police official in the state and the security adviser for their failure to control the violence, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

“We urge the students to engage in peaceful marches or protests and follow the law,” said IK Muivah, a senior police officer in Imphal.

He said police were investigating the recent attacks.

[Aljazeera]

Internet suspended in parts of India's Manipur as students clash with police

By Tora Agarwala September 10, 2024 Reuters

GUWAHATI, India, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Internet and mobile data services were suspended for five days and an indefinite curfew imposed in some parts of India's northeastern state of Manipur on Tuesday after student protests over continuing ethnic strife turned violent.

After a brief lull, fighting broke out between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities on Sept. 1 and some attacks involved the use of drones to drop explosive devices, killing civilians. Police say they suspect that the drones were used by Kuki militants, a claim denied by Kuki groups.

Hundreds of Meitei students took to the streets on Monday to protest against the drone attacks, calling for a change in the leadership of the state's "unified command" that oversees security.

Protesters threw stones and plastic bottles in front of the main gate of the state governor's residence, police said in a statement. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds and about 45 protesters suffered minor injuries, a police officer said.

As protests spilled over into Tuesday, the local government imposed a curfew in the Imphal Valley and surrounding districts and suspended internet services in five valley districts.

Government and private colleges in the state, which borders Myanmar, will also be shut on Wednesday and Thursday, according to an order issued by the government.

Authorities shut down the internet in Manipur last year, in one of India's longest enforced outages.

In the Thoubal district on Monday, police said a large mob "overpowered personnel on duty", snatched arms and fired at the police.

"We are using minimum force as a preventive measure to control the crowd," a police official said, and added that the situation had been brought under control.

At least 225 people have died and some 60,000 have been displaced since fighting broke out last year between the Meitei and Kuki communities over the sharing of economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education that are given to the tribal Kukis.

Manipur's government is led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi or the BJP have not commented on the latest violence in the state⍐.