Manipur, a northeastern state of India, has recently been rocked by Kuki and Meitei ethnic conflict. After almost four months of calm, the state has recently seen renewed protests after several people were killed by drones and missiles.
In the meantime, angry students have removed the national flag of India from the Raj Bhavan in Thoubal district of the state and planted the Meitei ethnic symbol (Manipuri/Meiti) flag there.
Agitated students hoisted their own ethnic flags at the District Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office (Raj Bhavan) after a rally with Meiti flags around noon on Monday. Indian mass media Free Press Journal reported this in the afternoon.
In a video circulating on social media, students stormed the Raj Bhavan in the state’s Thoubal district. Later they took down the Indian flag hanging on the Raj Bhavan and put up the Meiti flag.
Manipur students intensified their protest by storming government buildings on Monday, Free Press reported. This morning, students of various schools and colleges hit the streets of the capital Imphal demanding significant changes in the security management of the state, particularly the removal of the state security adviser, transfer of responsibility of the ‘unified command’ comprising various security agencies to the state government, withdrawal of paramilitary forces and resignation of state legislators.
During the protest, the students raised slogans like ‘Long live Manipur’, ‘Resign all incompetent MLAs’, ‘Give security to the state government’.
Students met Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor L Acharya.
After the meeting with the governor, the student representatives told reporters that they have raised six demands, including the removal of the director general of police (DGP) and the security adviser to the state government for failing to control the violence. They have called for handing over the unified command to Singh, currently chaired by former CRPF DG Kuldeep Singh.
College student M Sanathoi Chanu told reporters, ‘We want to study freely without any hindrance. We have requested the Chief Minister to end the conflict as soon as possible.’
Separately, the state’s Thoubal and Kakching districts held protests against recent civilian killings by suspected Kuki militants. Thousands of Meitei students participated in it. At one point, the students removed the Indian flag and installed the Meiti flag in the Raj Bhavan of Thoubal.
The protests have called for the cancellation of the Suspension of Operations (SOS) agreement and called on the state government to take a more active role in combating violence against civilians.
Incidentally, massive clashes spread in Manipur from last September 1. Two people, including a woman, were killed and several others injured in a terrorist attack in the state capital recently. According to news agency PTI, members of the armed group launched the attack from the hills of Imphal targeting the low-lying areas of Kautruk and neighboring Kadangband. Besides the casualties, many houses were damaged. Next to it is Kangpokpi, a Kuki-populated hill district. Allegedly, members of the armed group belong to the Kuki community. Even on the evening of September 6, an attempt was made to loot the armory of two battalions of the Manipur Rifles. Since then, the situation in Manipur has heated up again and again.
Besides, four suspected armed group members and one civilian were killed in the violence in Jiribam district of Manipur. An elder of the Meitei community was allegedly killed in Jiribam. After this incident, the violence spread further. Recent violence in the state has seen the use of sophisticated drones and RPGs (rocket-propelled guns). Police say such weapons are usually used during war. Police suspect the elderly man was killed in a bomb blast that targeted former chief minister Myrembam Koireng’s house.
The elder was preparing for a religious ceremony at a nearby place. He died on the spot. who belongs to the Meitei community. Last week there were incidents of bomb hurling at several places. The situation became heated. Meiteira has always blamed cookies for the attack.
(Dhakatimes/September 9/SIS)
Source: www.dhakatimes24.com