Manipur Violence News Highlights: Protests continue over students' killing incident, AFSPA extended for 6 months

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be providing security to the team of Central Bureau of Investigation which is visiting the violence hit areas in Manipur.

"Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been given charge of security of CBI teams visiting various locations in Manipur for investigation purposes and collection of evidence," a senior official told ANI.

A Christian social activist from Mizoram, Alinery Lianhlawng, told the United Nations that the narratives peddled by the international media on Manipur violence hold no ground and India’s northeast region has rich ethnic diversity.

Speaking during a general debate at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Alinery said, “Being an indigenous woman from the NE of India, I have the privilege to shed light on the Manipur conflict and the Government of India’s firm resolve to bring back peace and normalcy in the region."

Violent protests continued to rock Manipur’s capital for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured Chief Minister N Biren Singh of quick action in dealing with the culprits responsible for kidnapping and killing two youths.

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA was extended by another six months in Manipur on Wednesday barring 19 police stations falling under the Imphal valley and an area that shares its boundary with neighbouring Assam.

Manipur's Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday strongly denounced the alleged "kidnapping and killing" of two students, while pledging to deliver justice to the state's residents.

He also revealed that, in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's directive, a team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrived on Wednesday afternoon.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday expressed grief over the deaths of two youths in Manipur and demanded strict action against the culprits.

"The Congress party expresses condolences over the deaths of these two students. We want the culprits to be arrested as soon as possible. We want the government to take strong action against them,” he told ANI.

A Central Bureau of Investigation team, led by the agency's Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Imphal in a special flight earlier today to investigate the alleged "kidnapping and killing" of two students, Sources said.

The two boys had reportedly gone missing in Manipur on July 6.

Upon their arrival at Imphal airport, the CBI team parried questions about the incident.

The police station areas where the Disturbed Areas Act has not been imposed are Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Sekmai, Lamsang, Pastol, Wangoi, Porompat, Heingagng, Lamlai, Iribung, Leimakhong, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Nambol, Moirang, Kakchin and Jirbam.

Hill areas of Manipur were again placed under the stringent Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act while 19 police stations mainly comprising areas in the valley have been kept out of its purview.

In an official notification issued on Wednesday, it was stated that "Governor of Manipur hereby accords approval to declare the entire state of Manipur excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations...as 'Disturbed Area' for a period of six months with effect from October 1, 2023."

Congress national president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence and urged him to sack Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) 'incompetent Chief Minister'.

Kharge said that the beautiful state of Manipur has been turned into a 'battlefield'.

"For 147 days, the people of Manipur have been suffering, but PM Modi does not have time to visit the state. The horrific images of students being targeted in this violence have once again shocked the entire nation. It is now apparent that violence against women and children was weaponized in this strife," Kharge said in a post on X.

The Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Manipur violence, saying why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding.

“The Prime Minister is roaming around different states, leaving behind his trademark trail of lies, abuses, and insults. Why he cannot find a day to visit Manipur is simply beyond any understanding,” he said in a post on X.

The Manipur government on Tuesday reimposed the ban on internet services for the next five days, soon after police baton-charged students in Imphal during a demonstration against the alleged kidnapping and death of two youths.

The police action left 45 students, many of them girls, injured, officials said.

After photos of the deceased bodies of two missing Meitei teenagers appeared on social media platforms, Manipur CM N Biren Singh assured people here that both the state and central government are closely working together to nab the perpetrators.

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Protest rallies erupted in Imphal with thousands of students marching towards the centre of the city for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, protesting the kidnapping and killing of two youths. On the other hand, the women's wing of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the apex Kuki body, staged a demonstration in Churachandpur against the delay in ordering a CBI inquiry into the killing and rape of tribals during the nearly five-month-long ethnic violence in Manipur. Manipur Police, CRPF and RAF personnel were seen deployed in strength throughout Imphal Valley in anticipation of possible violence.

Following his resignation from the JD(S), Syed Shafiulla Saheb accused the BJP of "maintaining silence over the situation in Manipur” which witnessed violence after clashes earlier this May.

A team of CBI officials, led by the agency's Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, will reach Imphal in a special flight on Wednesday to investigate the "kidnapping and killing" of two students who went missing in the northeastern state on July 6, sources said.

The decision was taken within hours of the case being handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Manipur government.

The team led by Bhatnagar, the second-in-command in the federal agency, will also have Joint Director Ghanshyam Upadhyay, who is camping in Imphal, sources said.

The women wing of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the apex Kuki body, staged a demonstration in Churachandpur against the delay of ordering CBI inquiry into the killing and rape of tribals during the nearly five-month-long ethnic violence in Manipur.

Manipur Police, CRPF and RAF personnel were seen deployed in strength throughout Imphal Valley in anticipation of possible protests and violence.

Protest rallies erupted in the streets of Imphal with thousands of students sloganeering against the kidnapping and killing of two youths for the second consecutive day on Wednesday.

On the other hand, the women wing of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the apex Kuki body, staged a demonstration in Churachandpur against the delay of ordering CBI inquiry into the killing and rape of tribals during the nearly five-month-long ethnic violence in Manipur.

“More shocking news from Manipur. Children are the most vulnerable victims of ethnic violence. It is our duty to do all we can to protect them. The horrific crimes being committed in Manipur are beyond words, yet they are being allowed to continue unabated," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on her social media account, X.

The curbs will remain effective in the state till 7.45 pm on 1 October 2023.

With photographs of the bodies of two Manipur students who had been missing going viral, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday alleged that horrific crimes are being allowed to continue unabated in the state and said that the Centre should be ashamed of its "inaction".

Hours after the photos of the bodies of two students, who had been missing since July, went viral on social media, the Manipur government asked people to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the "kidnapping and killing" of the duo. The two students were identified as Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17).