Violence escalates in Manipur: Meitei supporters lock govt offices, Amit Shah chairs meeting; internet ban extended – top developments

NEW DELHI: Violence in Manipur continued to escalate on Monday, with one protester killed and six others dying in separate incidents, as clashes between security forces and civilians intensified. The unrest has forced the imposition of curfews and internet shutdowns across several districts, including Imphal East and West, amid growing concerns about public order.
Union home minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting on Monday to assess the security situation and formulate strategies to stabilise the region.
Here are the top developments:

Manipur's Kuki organisations announced plans for a 'coffin rally' in Churachandpur on Tuesday to honour and express solidarity with the 10 Kuki-Zo youths who lost their lives in an alleged confrontation with CRPF in Manipur's Jiribam district.
The Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), and Hmar Students' Association (HSA) issued a 'joint public notice' on Monday, instructing educational institutions to send students of class 10 and above to attend the event in black attire.
An organiser informed PTI about their plans to carry 10 symbolic coffins to honour the deceased youths, as their remains are currently at a local hospital's morgue.
Following post-mortem procedures at a Silchar hospital in Assam, the bodies were transported to Churachandpur, a predominantly Kuki district, on Saturday afternoon.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), which represents the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur, declared on Sunday that funeral services for the 10 youths would be postponed until the families receive their post-mortem reports.

After the National People's Party withdraw its support from 60-member Manipur assembly, Naga People's Front (NPF) and BJP MLAs arrived at the residence of CM N Biren Singh, in Imphal. This meeting seems to be focused on the violence in Manipur.
In violation of curfew directives, COCOMI members, an influential organisation of the Meitei community, and their supporters on Monday secured the entrances of various government establishments in Imphal West district, expressing outrage over the recent deaths of three women and three children in Jiribam, according to officials. COCOMI, representing the Meitei community, holds significant influence in the Imphal Valley's five districts, including Imphal West, where Meiteis constitute the predominant ethnic group.
The demonstrators forcefully entered the Chief Electoral Officer's office complex at Lamphelpat, securing its primary entrance with chains and padlocks, as reported by officials.
The protesters also padlocked the main entrances of the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) at Takyel, along with the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, situated a short distance from the CEO's office.


The Manipur government on Monday extended the suspension of internet services by two more days till Wednesday in seven districts including Imphal East and West of the northeastern state.
Earlier on November 16, the internet was suspended for the seven districts after the fresh violence erupted in the state. The people are staying in Manipur without internet for the past two days and now this extension has only made caused them more trouble.

While addressing a press briefing, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said that the Bharatiya Janata Party members spread hatred and that is the reason why 'aag lagti hai' .
He also said that home minister Amit Shah should do his job of restoring the peace in the state.
"Everyone knows what is happening in Manipur. The Prime Minister has not gone there yet. I have gone to Manipur. We have asked the government to stop the violence. Someone has a vested interest. The Home Minister should do his work, but for some reason, he is not doing his work. Peace should be restored there. BJP people spread hatred, that is why 'aag lagti hai'. 'Aag ko sirf Congress mita sakti hain' because we talk about love, brotherhood..." Rahul Gandhi said.
Congress asks PM Modi to visit state, demands Amit Shah's resignation
The Congress party urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the strife-affected state ahead of the Parliament session and called for Amit Shah's resignation, citing the complete breakdown of the "double engine government."
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary handling communications, insisted that the PM should meet with a multi-party delegation from Manipur and subsequently arrange a national-level all-party discussion before the Parliament session commencing November 25.
During a media briefing at the AICC headquarters, Ramesh called for the resignations of both Shah and chief minister N Biren Singh.
"From May 3, 2023, Manipur is burning and PM Modi visits various countries of the world, gives sermons, but could not find time to visit Manipur. So, our first demand is that PM should take time out before the Parliament session to visit Manipur and meet political parties, politicians, civil society groups, and people in relief camps there," Ramesh said.
"There is a strange 'jugalbandi' between the home minister and the failed CM. Why the home minister has not taken cognizance of the CM's failures and why has he been attempting to save him?" Ramesh said.
"The double engine government has failed and has been derailed. The home minister is directly responsible. We want the Home Minister to resign because it is his responsibility," he added.
The Centre has announced the deployment of an additional 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Manipur, bringing over 5,000 personnel to assist in managing the ongoing security crisis, PTI reported quoting sources. This follows an earlier dispatch of 20 CAPF companies, including 15 from the CRPF and five from the BSF, in response to recent violence in Jiribam district.
The latest deployment, which includes 35 units from the CRPF and the remainder from the BSF, is aimed at addressing the increasingly volatile situation. With this new addition, the total number of CAPF companies in Manipur will rise to 218.
On Sunday night, a protester in his twenties, identified as K Athouba, was killed during a clash with security forces in Jiribam district, according to ANI. Police said that the agitators who vandalised properties near Babupara faced firing, though it remains unclear who opened fire. Eyewitnesses alleged the shots came from the direction of security forces.
Bodies Found in Assam River After Manipur Unrest
Meanwhile, two bodies, an unidentified woman and a young girl, were found in Assam's Barak river. The bodies were discovered inside a gunny sack.
This discovery follows unrest in neighboring Manipur sparked by the discovery of six bodies. The six victims, found earlier on Sunday, are believed to be three women and three children who went missing from a relief camp in Jiribam, Manipur. Jiribam has been experiencing violence, leading to the displacement of many and the establishment of relief camps.
The Union home ministry transferred three cases of violence against civilians to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The cases involve allegations of widespread arson and ransacking, which police say led to the arrest of 23 individuals from various districts, including Imphal East, West, and Bishnupur.
The NIA took over these cases from Manipur Police following a directive from the ministry of home affairs, as the violent incidents linked to the cases had escalated in recent months, resulting in fatalities and significant unrest in the region.


Union home minister Amit Shah convened a high-level meeting with senior officials in the national capital and assessed the security situation in Manipur.
During the meeting, the central government decided to deploy an additional 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, totalling over 5,000 personnel, to Manipur due to the challenging situation in the state.
The meeting comes after Shah cancelled election rallies in Maharashtra to focus on the deteriorating conditions in the northeastern state.

In response to the worsening security situation, chief minister N Biren Singh convened a meeting with ruling NDA ministers and MLAs on Monday evening to assess the law and order crisis, officials told news agency ANI. This comes after the National People's Party (NPP) withdrew its support from the BJP-led government, citing the CM's failure to resolve the ongoing conflict. Despite the NPP's withdrawal, the BJP retains a majority in the state assembly with 32 MLAs, supported by five MLAs from the Naga People's Front (NPF) and six from the JD(U).

Following the killings, the authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in Imphal East and West, alongside a suspension of internet services in seven districts. Streets in Imphal remain largely deserted, with heavy deployment of security personnel outside key sites such as the chief minister’s residence and the Raj Bhavan.
Markets and public transport services are shut, with only pharmacies and a few private vehicles operating. Security has also been heightened around legislators' residences, following several arson attacks over the weekend.
The Centre has also reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in violence-hit areas, underlining the gravity of the situation.

In Imphal valley, enraged mobs torched the homes of multiple political figures, including BJP and Congress legislators. On Saturday night, the ancestral residence of chief minister N Biren Singh narrowly escaped being stormed by protesters. The incidents are linked to public outrage over the killings of women and children allegedly abducted by militants in Jiribam district.

On Sunday, the National People's Party (NPP) announced its withdrawal of support from the BJP-led government, citing its inability to restore peace. However, the BJP retains a majority in the 60-member Assembly with 32 MLAs, along with support from other parties.
Manipur has been embroiled in ethnic violence since May 2023, following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Over 220 people have been killed, and thousands displaced as tensions persist between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also voiced its concern over the violence in Manipur, calling for immediate intervention by the Union government to restore peace.
In a statement, the CPI(M) Politburo condemned the violence. They also highlighted the discovery of five bodies of women and children who had been abducted, exacerbating the crisis. The Left party blamed N Biren Singh for the deteriorating situation, accusing him of failing to manage the violence. CPI(M) questioned why Singh was still in power despite his inability to control the unrest.