Manipur violence: 'Shoot at sight' orders issued as state continues to burn; shocking videos go viral - WATCH

To control the law and order situation following the widespread riots across Manipur between tribals and the majority of Meitei community, the Governor of Manipur issued 'shoot at sight' orders in extreme cases on Thursday.

"In view of the prevailing situation following the unwanted incidents occurred the Tribal Solidarity March, 2023, held on 03-04-2023 and in order to maintain public order and tranquility in the State, the Governor of Manipur is pleased to authorise all District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and all Executive Magistrates/Special Executive Magistrates detailed by the District Magistrates concerned to issue shoot at sight orders in extreme cases whereby all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force, etc. had been exhausted under the provision of law under CrPC 1973 and the situation could not be controlled," read the May 4th order issued by the Governor of Manipur.

Meanwhile, fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain widespread rioting that displaced over 9,000 people. The Army also kept some 14 columns on standby for deployment in case the situation flared up once again, a defence spokesperson said. 

The Army and Assam Rifles staged flag marches in Khuga, Tampa, Khomaujanbba areas of Churachandpur. The spokesperson said that flag marches were also carried out in Mantripukhri, Lamphel, Koeirangi area of Imphal Valley, and Sugnu in Kakching district on Thursday. 

Underlining the gravity of the violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday and took stock of the situation in the state. 

Also read: Manipur violence: Army officials shift over 9,000 people to safer places

The Centre, which is monitoring the situation in Manipur, has also dispatched teams of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised force to handle riots, for deployment in violence-hit areas of the Northeastern state. 

Clashes broke out on Wednesday, which intensified overnight with counter-attacks being mounted by rival communities in retaliation to earlier attacks after Naga and Kuki tribals organised a 'Tribal Solidarity March'. 

So far, 9,000 people have been rescued by the forces from the violence-hit areas and given shelter, a defence spokesperson said on Thursday, adding that more people are being shifted to safer places. 

The spokesperson said that some 5,000 people had been shifted to secure homes in Churachandpur, another 2,000 people in Imphal Valley, and 2,000 people in the border town of Moreh in the Tenugopal district.

The Army and Assam Rifles were requisitioned last night, and along with the state police, the forces arrested the violence by the morning, the spokesperson said. 

"Flag marches are being conducted to keep the situation under control," he said. 

A 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the ten hill districts of the state on Wednesday to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who account for 53 per cent of the state's population, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. 

The march was organised by tribals whoi account for about 40 per cent of the state's population after the Manipur High Court asked the state government last month to send a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks on the demand for ST status by the Metei community. 

During the march in Torbung area of Churachandpur district, an armed mob allegedly attacked people of the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated the violence throughout the state, according to police. 

Also read: Manipur violence: 'My state is burning, kindly help' - Mary Kom appeals

They said many shops and houses were vandalised and gutted in arson that lasted more than three hours in Torbung. Chief Minister N Biren Singh urged people to maintain peace, "Precious lives have been lost, besides damage of properties, which is very unfortunate." 

However, the details of the deaths were not immediately available. Singh said the violence resulted from "misunderstanding" in the society. 

"The state government is taking all steps to maintain the law and order situation and additional para-military forces have been requisitioned to protect the lives and properties of the people," he said. 

"Central and state forces have been directed to take strong action against individuals and groups who are indulging in violence," he said. 

The Chief Minister of neighbouring Mizoram, Zoramthanga, wrote to Singh, expressing concern over the violence. 

"As the Chief Minister of Mizoram, a lifelong neighbour that has much in common with Manipur in terms of history and culture, I am deeply pained by the violence that has flared up in parts of your State and the underlying tension between the Meitei community and the tribals there," he wrote in the letter. 

Singh said he spoke to Zoramthanga on the phone and apprised him of the present situation. Curfew has been imposed in Meitei-dominated Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam, and Bishnupur districts, and tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal districts. Mobile internet services were suspended across the state.

In the Imphal valley, houses of Kuki tribals were ransacked in several areas, forcing them to flee, police said. Over 500 residents of the Kuki-dominated Langol area in Imphal West fled their homes, and are currently staying at the CRPF camp at Lamphelpat, police said. They said some places of worship were also set on fire in the Imphal valley last night.

Meanwhile, they said around 1,000 Meiteis of the tribal-dominated Churachandpur district fled to various areas of Bishnupur district, including Kwakta and Moirang. 

Over twenty houses were also burnt in Motbung area of Kangpokpi district, police said. Violence was also reported from Moreh near the Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district. Lawmakers of the valley have earlier openly endorsed the demand by some Meitei organisations for ST status, alarming communities who figure in the Scheduled Tribe list. 

The Meiteis inhabit the valley, which accounts for about a tenth of the former princely state's land area. They claim they face problems because of "large-scale illegal immigration by Myanmarese and Bangladeshis". The hill districts, which account for much of the state's land, are inhabited mostly by tribals -- including the Nagas and Kukis, who are mainly Christians -- and are protected from encroachment by various laws.

(With inputs from PTI)