Manipur reports fresh violence, Section 144 imposed in Churachandpur district amid ethnic clashes and pending burials
PTC Web Desk: The Manipur Government has implemented prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 in Churachandpur district for two months amid fresh incidents of sporadic violence in this tribal-dominated area. This Section 144 imposition came into effect from December 18 and will remain in force until February 18, 2024.
These restrictions follow an announcement by the Indigenous Tribal Leader's Forum (ITFL), a significant tribal entity in Churachandpur, declaring a mass burial for over 60 deceased tribal individuals who lost their lives during recent ethnic clashes in the state.
Sixty-four bodies of the victims from the violence were handed over to their respective families on Thursday. These bodies had been housed in government mortuaries since early May.
The roots of the violence can be traced back to May 3 when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then, over 150 individuals have lost their lives, and more than 3,000 have been injured.
To manage the situation, approximately 40,000 central security personnel, along with the Manipur Police, were deployed to restore peace in the state.
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The Supreme Court, in August, formed a committee comprising three former high court judges to address relief and rehabilitation efforts in Manipur. According to the committee's report, only 81 bodies out of the total deaths during the violence had been claimed.
In November, the court directed the Manipur Government to facilitate the burial or cremation of the bodies identified but unclaimed in morgues by December.
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- With inputs from agencies
