Manipur Violence: Mobs Clash with Security Forces, Army Veterans Call Manipur ‘Stateless’

Last night, automatic weapons were shot from Kwakta in the conflict-torn Manipur district of Bishnupur and Kangvai in the Churachandpur district, according to police and army sources. Intermittent bursts of shooting were recorded until early this morning.

It has also been stated that there have been numerous instances of mob gathering, attempted vandalism, and burning. A Flag March was conducted in the Imphal East district until midnight by combined Army, Assam Rifles, Rapid Action Force, and state police troops, as reported by NDTV.

There was allegedly an attempted arson at the Palace Compound nearby Advance Hospital. Last night, a mob of roughly 1,000 people gathered and attempted damage and arson. Two individuals were hurt when the RAF used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

There were also reports of a mob buildup near Manipur University. At 10.40 p.m., 200 to 300 individuals congregated near Thongju and made an attempt to vandalize the local MLA's home. The crowd was dispersed by an RAF column.

Last night, a different crowd made an attempt to vandalize the Iringbam Police Station's armory in the Imphal West neighborhood. At 11.40 p.m., 300 to 400 individuals attempted to ransack the police station. The RAF spread out the crowd.

Army reports claim that 200 to 300 people encircled the BJP office in Sinjemai just after midnight before being dispersed by an Army column.

The Army and RAF stopped the mob's attempt at vandalism against Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, the state BJP president, in Imphal West at midnight. As per Army sources, the crowd dispersed.

A day after a mob of 1200 people sets fire to RK Ranjan Singh's home in Manipur with petrol bombs, there have been attacks there.

The property of political leaders has been targeted as the conflict between two communities in Manipur has gotten worse over the past few days. The center is working hard to implement a peace plan, but the current state of law and order is still quite unstable.

‘State is now Stateless:’ Claims Army Veteran

L. Nishikanta Singh, a retired lieutenant general from Manipur, has expressed shock at the violence in his home state, calling it "stateless" and equating the level of chaos to that seen in Syria, Libya, and Nigeria.

Many veterans, including General V.P. Malik, a former army chief, sent messages of support in response to the tweet made by someone who had held the second-highest rank in the army. They all asked the administration to take additional action to diffuse the crisis.

"I'm just an average Manipur-born Indian delighting in a retired life. The state is currently "stateless," tweeted Singh on Thursday.

"Just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, and other places, property and human life can be destroyed at any time by anyone. Manipur appears to have been abandoned to simmer in its own juice. Is anyone here hearing me?"

The majority of Manipur's population is waiting anxiously for the Central Government and its different agencies to put an end to the chaos that has overtaken the state, he wrote in another tweet. This insanity needs to end. How is it possible that so much of our nation is stateless?

In response to his tweet, Malik wrote on Friday: "A retired Lt. Gen. from Manipur made an extraordinarily sad call. Manipur's law and order situation requires an immediate, top-level response.

Malik, who oversaw the army during the 1999 Kargil conflict, mentioned Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his tweet.

Singh received a response from former brigadier Sandeep Thapar who stated: "This from a Manipuri & seasoned soldier. People would have cared if Manipur had a few more seats in the parliament. Given that there are just 2 (LS) and 1 (RS), nobody is disturbed.