An official statement states that the whole curfew in Manipur's violent Churachandpur district was lifted for a short period of time on Sunday morning to enable residents to purchase necessities like food and medications.
The announcement said that the curfew imposed by section 144 of the CrPC will be lifted from 7 am to 10 am. On Saturday, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, it was equally laid back.
The curfew will be partially relaxed as per the details shared below (sic), the chief minister N Biren Singh tweeted, sharing a copy of the official order. “With the law and order situation improving in Churachandpur district and after talks were held between the state government and various stakeholders, I'm pleased to share that the curfew will be partially relaxed as per the details shared below (sic),” he wrote.
According to Sharath Chandra Arroju, the district magistrate of Churachandpur, “Subsequent relaxations shall be reviewed and notified based on assessment of the prevailing law and order situation.”
The Imphal Valley's life hobbled back to a nervous normality as stores and marketplaces reopened and vehicles resumed their daily commutes.
What is known so far: 1. Intense fighting erupted in Manipur when ten hill districts of the state organized a “Tribal Solidarity March” to oppose the majority Meitei community's desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
2. Following the violence between a segment of protesting hill tribes and members of the mostly Meitei population on May 3, a curfew was enforced. Over 9,000 people have been evacuated, and there have been at least 54 fatalities.
3. More than 6,000 troops from the Army and Assam Rifles have been stationed in the state, and more have been sent there by road from Nagaland and by air from Assam using IAF C17 Globemaster and AN 32 transport planes.
4. At an all-party meeting on Saturday, Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced the creation of peace committees in each assembly district to guarantee that peace efforts are carried out locally.
5. Singh reviewed the on-the-ground operations through video conference with the top representatives of the state administration, police, and paramilitary forces. According to reports, hundreds of people—mostly students—were trapped in Manipur due to the violence.
6. To stop the spiraling violence between tribal peoples and the Meitei population, which makes up the majority in Manipur, the government issued a “shoot at sight” order on Thursday for “extreme cases.”
7. While many locals fled to neighboring Assam for safety, efforts were being undertaken by the governments of West Bengal and Mizoram to bring back stranded citizens from the conflict-torn state. Despite claiming that the Centre had denied the request, a top Mizoram official said that planes were being supplied to rescue its citizens who were trapped in the neighboring state.
8. Last week, before the chief minister visited the Churachandpur district, violence initially broke out. On May 3, during the 'Tribal Solidarity March' organized by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), fights flared out once again in the Torbung region of the district.
9. It is noteworthy that the march was organized by hill tribes, namely Nagas and Kukis, after the Manipur High Court requested last month that the state administration provide a proposal to the Center within four weeks regarding the Meitei community's desire for ST status.
10. The majority of Meiteis, who make up around 53% of Manipur's population, reside in the Imphal valley. Another 40% of the population, especially in the hill areas, are the protesting tribals, the Nagas and Kukis.
