In the wake of violent clashes in Manipur’s Churachandpur, three protesters lost their lives and over 30 others sustained injuries. The flaring tensions have been fuelled by the suspension of a police head constable allegedly involved in firing on civilians alongside armed militants.
During the turmoil, the offices of Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police were set ablaze by unidentified miscreants, accompanied by the distressing act of tearing down the Indian National Flag from government buildings.
Addressing the situation, the Manipur Police reported a mob’s attempt to storm the Churachandpur SP office, triggering a response from security forces to maintain order. In the aftermath, head constable Siamlalpaul faced suspension pending investigation into his alleged association with armed individuals, as depicted in viral social media footage.
The mob consisted of around 300 to 400 people and pelted stones and other things, stated the Manipur Police adding, “The security forces, including RAF is responding appropriately by firing tear gas shell to control the situation. Things are under watch.”
Head constable Siamlalpaul, who was seen in a viral social media video with “armed men” and “sitting together with village volunteers”, was kept “under suspension with immediate effect until further orders” by Churachandpur SP Shivanand Surve.
Additionally, Siamlalpaul has been instructed not to leave the station without prior permission and his pay and allowances have been restricted to the subsistence allowance permissible under the rules.
Furthermore, the Manipur Police have arrested six people, who were part of the unruly mob, in connection with the looting of arms from the India Reserve Battalion camp at Chingarel in Manipur’s Imphal East district.
The police official added, “They have been remanded into police custody by judicial magistrate. Further, four Insas Rifles, one AK Ghatak 2, magazines of SLR and 16 small boxes of 9 mm ammunition which are suspected to have been looted from 5th IRB have been recovered by the Manipur Police…”
In a show of solidarity, citizens of Manipur’s Imphal valley staged a human chain protest, condemning the prolonged situation of unrest and demanding peace restoration. Voices were raised against alleged breaches of peace agreements and attacks targeting the broader community.
Protesters held play cards reading – Abrogate Suspension of Operation, Down Down Narco Terrorist, Save Manipur Save Bharat from Kuki Narco-Terrorist, We Want Peace in Manipur. The protesters raised slogan to remove Assam Rifles.
People Alliance for Peace and Progress president Mayanglambam Bobby Singh insisted upon the urgency of restoring peace, highlighting the impact on the State’s stability and the nation as a whole.
The violence prompted decisive action from the Manipur Government, which announced a temporary suspension of mobile internet and data services across Churachandpur District to curb the dissemination of inflammatory content and rumours exacerbating tensions. The suspension will be in effect for a period of five days, beginning immediately from 1:40 am on February 16.
Home Department Joint Secretary Dr Mayengbam Veto Singh stressed the preventive nature of the measure, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property while restoring peace and tranquillity in the region.
