Manipur violence: Internet ban extended for 5 more days; Assam Rifles jawan succumbs to injuries

On Wednesday, an order issued by the state home department said that the extension of the ban was necessitated based on reports of continued incidents like “fighting amongst volunteers/youths of major communities residing in the state with reports of arson of houses and premises.”

Nevertheless, curfew was relaxed for longer periods, particularly in the valley districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Jiribam. The curfew was lifted between 5 am to 3 pm. In Bishnupur district, the epicentre of the prevailing violence, curfew was also relaxed for 6 hours from 6 am to 12 noon.

An official source told The Indian Express that the situation has improved. “Our aim at the moment is to make the situation such that there are no reports of incidents or rumours generally,” he said. He added that the focus had now shifted towards maintaining the supply of essential commodities on one hand and engaging in dialogue with community leaders on the other.

In hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Pherzawl — dominated by Kuki-Zomi communities — curfew was relaxed for 5 hours, starting from 5 am to 11 am.

Meanwhile, the official death toll went up to 74, with a jawan of 18 Assam Rifles succumbing to his injuries following a shootout on May 10 with suspected militants under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement. “Rifleman Alok Rao of 18 Assam Rifles, who sustained a gunshot wound on 10 May, in an operation in Manipur, succumbed to his injury at Command Hospital Kolkata on 17 May,” a defence statement said. Four other jawans, who were also injured during the shootout, are reported to be out of danger.