In order to put an end to violence between tribal and non-tribal groups in the isolated northeastern state of Manipur that left six people dead, soldiers of the Indian Army performed flag marches and evacuated hundreds of residents during a dawn-to-dusk curfew, officials claimed.
A protest march on Tuesday by hundreds of tribal members opposed to a non-tribal group’s desire for a scheduled tribe’s legally recognized status originally descended into violence.
According to Indian army sources, between Wednesday night and Thursday, troops and the paramilitary Assam Rifles evacuated more than 7,500 members of various groups and provided them with refuge at the troops’ camps and official buildings.
“We are working on a war footing with the army and paramilitary troopers deployed in strength to defuse any kind of communal clashes, protests, and blockades,” a senior police officer, who sought anonymity, told Reuters news agency from the state capital of Imphal.
In response to episodes of violence between young men and volunteers from various areas, mobile internet services have been halted statewide for five days, according to a statement from the state administration.
The local authorities were given “shoot at sight orders in extreme cases” by the state governor on Thursday.
N. Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, which borders Myanmar, made a heartfelt appeal for people to uphold peace and harmony in a social media post. He said that “precious life” had been sacrificed in the fighting.
However, there was no official confirmation of any fatalities.
