Manipur on Fire

ITANAGAR: The situation in Manipur continues to be tense after more vehicles were attacked on Monday following the arson of at least 21 vehicles in Imphal East district on Sunday by agitators angered by the indefinite economic blockade that has been in place for over 50 days now.

Vehicles carrying essential goods to Manipur’s capital Imphal have been barred from travelling by the United Naga Council (UNC) which imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the national highways entering the state on November 1.

The core reason for imposing the blockade was the state government’s decision to carve out seven new districts which the UNC says infringes upon Naga-majority hill areas of the state, leading to a division of land traditionally belonging to the Naga tribes of Manipur.

On November 18, a state-wide bandh was called by various organisations protesting against the Isak-Muviah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) which had earlier signed a “peace accord” with the Government of India, and the UNC which the protestors said should be declared as an ‘unlawful organisation’. The bandh itself came days after three policemen were killed and at least nine others were injured in two ambushes on Thursday. This was followed by three bomb blasts in Imphal West.

During Sunday’s bandh, vehicles travelling to Ukhrul district were stopped by protestors on the Imphal-Ukhrul road and passengers were told to step out before the cars set ablaze. Media reports said that at least 22 vehicles were burnt down but other sources said the number could be higher. No casualties were reported but curfew had been called by the administration in Imphal East and Imphal West districts. On Monday the violence continued.

While two vehicles coming from Ukhrul district were burnt down in Imphal East, another two were reportedly set fire in Senapati district which was travelling to Imphal. Then later in the afternoon, two cars were set fire in retaliation to the incident in Senapati.

The administration had yesterday shut down mobile internet services and today CrPc 144 limiting movement of peoples was imposed in Senapati district.

The events of the past few days has left at least hundreds of people stranded with three key roads having been affected. Many commuters are stranded along the Dimapur (Nagaland)-Imphal highway as well as the Imphal-Ukhrul road which has been blocked. One source said that movement on the other highway connecting Manipur to Assam, the Jiribam-Imphal road, has also been affected by the escalation of violence.

Amongst the many affected are children and old and infirm people who were travelling to and from Ukhrul for the Christmas holiday to spend time with family members, many of whom had been stranded since 10 AM on Sunday. Police escorts were eventually provided to those who were on their way to Ukhrul but even then they had to be careful. One source said that a particular stretch of road that usually takes one hour to cover took almost four hours as even the police escort vehicles had to take several detours to avoid stone pelting. While the people stranded left with police escorts at 1 AM on Monday, they reportedly reached the district at dawn.

Many others had also arrived at Imphal via flight but were left stranded and unable to move.

One recurring criticism has been that the government has not been doing enough to neutralise tensions. Although chief minister O Ibobi Singh and assembly speaker Th Lokeshwar Singh have appealed for peace, some say that the government’s aid hasn’t been up to mark.

The entire situation is also complicated by a variety of overlapping factors. While the economic blockade had already paralysed much of the state’s economy, with the internet being curtailed, banking services have also been hard hit which is in turn affecting Christmas festivities. Add to that the fact that even some churches have been attacked by unruly mobs, the entire episode could worsen and escalate out of control. Civil society organisations cutting across community lines however, are trying to come together to douse the situation.