Curfew eased partially in Manipur as security forces review situation

Amid a lull in violence in Manipur for the past two days after a spike in violence had been witnessed since September 1, leading to the killing of nine persons and injuring 15, curfew was on Thursday conditionally eased in some parts of the state and Internet services restored in certain areas.

Around 80-odd companies of the BSF and CRPF are currently in Manipur to tackle any spike in violence, security personnel informed, even as the situation on the surface seemed to be returning back to normal.

Meanwhile, top security personnel held rounds of meetings to monitor the situation in the strife-torn state, as sources pointed out that despite no reports of violence and killings having been reported in the past three to four days, the situation continued to remain tense.

The state’s DGP and Chief Secretary held meetings with top officials of the BSF and CRPF as well as Manipur Police to review the situation, sources further informed.

Sources told this newspaper that after more than a year of violence, the distrust among Meiteis and Kukis had only gone up and the stalemate continued. Meanwhile, the Manipur Government on Thursday conditionally restored Internet broadband services in the state. However, the ban on mobile Internet remains in place.

Internet services in the five Imphal valley districts —Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur — were suspended on Tuesday after the protests by students had turned violent.