Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been reinstated in Manipur’s Churachandpur district after clashes between two factions left nearly 30 individuals injured, prompting authorities to reinstate restrictions and suspend mobile internet services. Churachandpur Superintendent of Police, Karthik Malladi, confirmed the restoration of mobile internet services following an improvement in the situation.
The prohibitory orders, imposed by Churachandpur’s Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar S for two months starting December 18, have been extended. This decision follows police reports of clashes and sporadic violence between distinct groups in the region.
The unrest occurred ahead of the mass burial ceremony planned for 87 victims of ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi tribes scheduled to take place in Churachandpur on Wednesday.
The victims’ bodies, kept in Imphal morgues for months, were airlifted to Churachandpur and Kangpokpi last week as directed by the Supreme Court. A similar mass burial was conducted in Kangpokpi earlier.
The clashes erupted in various parts of Churachandpur and Thingkhangphai village, predominantly inhabited by Kuki-Zomi tribes. Reports indicate that around 30 individuals sustained injuries during these confrontations.
Concerns about a potential escalation in communal tensions led to the imposition of prohibitory orders aimed at preventing any disturbances and maintaining peace and order in the region.
The clashes reportedly arose between Kuki and Zomi groups over the display of a Zomi flag near a memorial stone at Thingphai, a Kuki village near Zomi settlements. Disputes also emerged regarding the naming proposal for the mass burial site in Churachandpur as the Kuki-Zo Martyrs Cemetery.
Amid these tensions, Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) decided to name the burial site at Mata as the Kuki-Zo Martyrs Cemetery. However, the Zomi Council expressed disagreement, stating no consensus had been reached on the term ‘Kuki-Zo’ and found it unacceptable.
Efforts towards reconciliation were evident as the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) issued an apology on behalf of a violent group involved in Monday’s clash, emphasizing peaceful coexistence and mutual respect between communities.
Despite the recent tensions, plans for Wednesday’s burial ceremony remain scheduled, starting with a condolence meeting at Tuiboung followed by the burial ceremony at Mata.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 3, leading to numerous casualties and displacements.
The situation remains under scrutiny as authorities work towards diffusing tensions and ensuring a peaceful resolution in the region.
Sources By Agencies
