Curfew in Manipur Districts as Clash Between Students and Police Sparks Tension

Imphal: Fresh tension mounted in Manipur on Tuesday with an indefinite curfew being imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita were imposed in Thoubal.

These prohibitory orders were imposed a day after student protests rocked Imphal.

“Due to the developing law and order situation in the district, earlier orders of curfew relaxation stand cancelled with immediate effect from 11 am of September 10. Hence, there is total curfew in Imphal East district with immediate effect until further orders,” an order issued by the district magistrate of Imphal East said.

In a separate direction district magistrate of Imphal West said, “In supersession of all earlier orders, curfew relaxation period for September 10 is hereby lifted with effect from 11 am of today. Restriction on the movement of people outside their respective residences was lifted from September 1 last year,” it said.

Essential services will not fall under the purview of the curfew, the order said.

Fresh curfew order follows students’ plans to escalate protests demanding the removal of DGP and security advisor to Manipur government for failure to control the situation.

At least seven people have been killed in the past week with rocket propelled drones in the state as Kuki insurgents have targetted Meitei dominated areas.

Thoubal, prohibitory orders bar assembly of five or more persons.