Imphal, Feb 21: A chaotic situation prevailed across the Manipur valley following the arrest of “village volunteers” by security forces a day after the Governor asked all the youths in the valley and the hills to return the looted and illegal arms within seven days.
The arrest of 28 “village volunteers” in Kakching district on Friday morning by troops of 46 Assam Rifles triggered massive protests all over the valley. All markets, including Khwairamband Keithel in the heart of Imphal, remained shut due to the protests.
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President’s Rule was imposed in the riot-torn state recently after N Biren Singh resigned as Chief Minister due to intense political pressure. Manipur is the state where President’s Rule has been invoked the most number of times. The state was brought under the President’s Rule on February 13 for the eleventh time.
Crackdown against militants and “village volunteers” has been intensified in Manipur ever since the President’s Rule was imposed in the state where the Meitei-Kuki conflict began in May 2023.
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Roads were blocked in many places against the arrests of “village volunteers”. Protestors blocked roads by burning tyres and trees. The protestors also expressed anger against the state BJP legislators.
(Newmai News Network)