Govt mulls Art 356 in Manipur

Amid indications that violence and protests in Manipur are going to intensify, the Centre is veering around to imposition of President’...

Amid indications that violence and protests in Manipur are going to intensify, the Centre is veering around to imposition of President’s Rule in the state. But before that, the Centre is likely to give Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh a chance to retrieve the situation by re-imposing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal made it clear that all options were still open, ‘‘including imposition of President’s Rule’’. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, which met this evening under the chairmanship of PM Manmohan Singh, discussed the latest developments. After the meet, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee refused to answer any questions on the options discussed.

Meanwhile, the state plunged into fresh turmoil today with the death of Pebam Chittaranjan, the 32-year-old student leader, who had set himself afire on Sunday to protest against the state government’s decision not to withdraw the AFSPA.

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The student, an advisor of the Bishenpur district unit of the Manipuri Students Federation, had suffered over 85 per cent burns after he attempted self-immolation in front of the Bishenpur market, about 35 km from here. Chittaranjan died at the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) hospital at around 3 pm today.

Curfew was imposed in Bishenpur town from 8 am today after arson and stone-pelting on police vehicles. The Greater Imphal area is under curfew for over three weeks now.

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