Manipur Violence: Curfew To Be Relaxed Partially In Imphal; Internet Ban Extended

The Manipur government on Sunday relaxed curfew restrictions in Imphal East district between 5 am to 5 pm in order to facilitate the public to buy essential items.

The areas where the curfew will be relaxed include the Hatta crossing to the RDS crossing, the Imphal River from Sanjenthong to Minuthong and Minuthong to Hatta crossing, and RDS crossing to Sanjenthong.

The curfew was relaxed to allow people to purchase essential items, including medicine and food supplies, the authorities said in a statement.

All persons belonging to essential services such as health, electricity, PHED, press, and electronic media and court, were exempted from further imposition of curfew after the expiry of the said period of relaxation.

However, in view of the fresh violence that erupted in the state, the government extended the ban on the internet in Manipur till June 20.

On Saturday, ten opposition parties of Manipur led by the Congress questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the continued violence in the northeastern state, while urging him to meet them and make an appeal for peace.

Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh said the letter of request for a meeting with the PM has also been hand-delivered to the Prime Minister's Office on June 12.

Ramesh said when violence broke out in Manipur 22 years ago, the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had called an all-party meeting twice on the demand of all the parties.

Vajpayee had also appealed for peace then, he said, urging Prime Minister Modi to issue a similar appeal now.

"There is only one reason why Manipur is burning and it is the ideology of the RSS and the politics of the BJP. It is not just Manipur, other states of the north-east are facing huge issues. This is the time of dealing with all militant organisations," he claimed.

"Manipur was burning 22 years ago on June 18, 2001. State Assembly, Speaker's bungalow, and CM Secretariat were burnt and remained blocked for 3 and a half months.

"At that time Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India and on the demand of various parties, an all-party meeting was called twice and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee appealed for peace. Today people from 10 parties are waiting to meet PM Modi, but PM Modi is silent," he said.

Nearly 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur. The state government has imposed a curfew in 11 districts and suspended internet services.