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BBC News
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Manipur: Curfew and internet shutdown in violence-hit Indian state
Authorities have imposed a curfew and shut down the internet in parts of the troubled north-eastern Indian state of Manipur after protests erupted over the arrest of leaders from an ethnic Sunday, police arrested five leaders of Arambai Tenggol, an armed Meitei radical group, including their chief Asem Kanan top investigation agency said Singh was arrested at Manipur's Imphal airport for his involvement in "various criminal activities" related to the violence that broke out in the state in has been rocked by periodic violence since 2023 after ethnic clashes between the two largest groups, the majority Meitei and minority Kuki, over land and influence. More than 250 people have been killed in the conflict, with tens of thousands Tenggol identifies itself as a social outfit and wields considerable influence in the state, enjoying support from the Meitei latest round of tensions began on 7 June, when India's top investigation agency arrested Singh and four other leaders of Arambai Tenggol, following which he was taken to Guwahati city in the neighbouring state of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating cases related to violence in Manipur, said that the trial for these had been shifted from Manipur to Guwahati in Assam "in view of the law and order situation in Manipur".After the arrests, protesters demanding the release of members of Arambai Tenggol stormed a police post, set fire to a bus and blocked roads in parts of Imphal. Some protesters also clashed with security personnel, The Hindu newspaper reported. A 13-year-old boy was injured after security forces fired tear gas shells and live rounds to disperse crowds, The Hindustan Times lawmaker Okram Surjakumar said the arrests had thrown the state into the violence, the state government suspended internet and mobile data services in five districts of the state for five days and imposed an indefinite curfew in one. Gatherings of four or more people has also been prohibited in the some Tenggol has also declared a 10-day shutdown in parts of the state since Saturday night. Priyanka Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress party, on Sunday questioned why the government was unable to bring to peace to the conflict-hit this year, the Indian government brought the state under direct federal rule after the chief minister resigned following criticism from opposition blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he had not met representatives from the state or made any efforts for peace."It is the prime minister's responsibility to ensure peace and security for the citizens of the country. To step back from this is to turn away from one's duty," she wrote in a post on ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been sharply criticised by opposition leaders and rights groups for its handling of the conflict. Opposition leaders have also criticised Modi for not visiting the state since the violence first began in 2023. On Sunday, a multi-party delegation of state lawmakers met the state lawmker Kh Ibomcha said the delegation had asked that the arrested leaders be released after they were questioned by the police.
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Internet cut as Meitei leader's arrest sparks protests in Manipur
Internet services were snapped and prohibitory orders clamped across Manipur's central valley Sunday after protests broke out overnight following the CBI's arrest of a leader of the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol. Asem Kanan Singh, the self-styled 'army chief' of Arambai Tenggol, was detained Saturday evening from the Kwakeithel area in Imphal West by security forces along with four other members of the outfit. In response, Arambai Tenggol announced a 10-day 'total shutdown'. In a statement, the CBI said it arrested Asem at Imphal airport over his involvement in 'various criminal activities related to Manipur violence in 2023' and that he has been taken to Guwahati in connection with the investigation. 'It may be recalled that CBI is investigating Manipur violence cases as per the direction of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. The trial of the Manipur violence cases have been shifted from Manipur to Guwahati in view of the law and order situation in Manipur. The said arrested member of Arambai Tenggol has been brought from Imphal to Guwahati and he will be produced before the competent court for police remand. Investigation is continuing,' the CBI said. According to officials, Asem was also allegedly involved in the February 2024 abduction of an Additional SP of Imphal West from his home. On Saturday night, as reports of the detention spread, protests erupted with protesters torching tyres and blocking roads in different parts of Imphal city. Confrontations between security forces and protestors were also reported at the Kwakeithel area, leaving multiple protesters injured. Internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN services, were suspended in the early hours of Sunday in the districts of Imphal East and West, Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur for five days through an order issued by Manipur Home Commissioner N Ashok Kumar. The order cited the apprehension that 'some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state of Manipur.' Internet services were last snapped in these districts in September last year after protests following a renewed escalation of violence in the state. Following the latest protests, prohibitory orders under section 163 of the BNS were imposed across the valley districts citing 'apprehension of serious breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquility, riot or affray in the area, and grave danger to human lives and properties due to unlawful activities of anti-social elements.' In Bishnupur district, a total curfew was imposed with effect from 11 pm of June 7. Meanwhile, the Centre is expected to hold talks on Monday with one of the Kuki-Zo groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the government. The meeting will be held with Advisor to MHA on North East A K Mishra. Sources said the meeting will largely focus on how to take the talks forward and discuss ways to arrive at a framework. 'Issues related to existing ceasefire agreements are not on the table yet. The demands pushed by the Kuki groups since the onset of violence will also be taken up later,' a government source said. Meitei groups are opposed to the government engaging SoO groups in talks. On Sunday, despite the heavy deployment of security forces, including the Army, in and around Imphal city, protesters enforced road blockades in several areas. At Keishampat in Imphal West district, a 13-year-old boy sustained injuries when a tear gas shell, which was allegedly fired by security forces, exploded. Also on Sunday, an all-political party delegation comprising 26 MLAs and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. Congress MLA Okram Surjakumar said the delegates requested the Governor to make public the reason behind the arrest of the Arambai Tenggol leader. 'The Governor clarified that the AT leader was arrested in connection with a CBI related case. However, the four other members who were arrested with the leader are under verification and would be released after the verification process is over,' said Surjakumar. The NIA, meanwhile, said in a statement that it has arrested two more insurgents in connection with an attack on an IRB post in the Manipur border town of Moreh in January 2024 in which two police personnel had been killed, taking the total number of arrests in this case to three.
