Imphal: Manipur’s Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday to assess the security situation in the state following a fresh surge of ethnic violence.
The discussion focused on steps needed to restore normalcy, strengthen peace, ensure stability, and protect the interests of the people. In a social media post, Konthoujam described the conversation as constructive and expressed appreciation for the Centre’s ongoing support in maintaining law and order and advancing the state’s development.
The meeting occurred shortly after Konthoujam visited the families of victims of a recent explosion in Tronglaobi that claimed the lives of a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister. He also inspected prefabricated facilities prepared for the rapid deployment of central security forces.
On Tuesday, two people were killed and 29 others injured when security forces allegedly opened fire on a mob that stormed a paramilitary camp in Bishnupur district. The protesters were demonstrating against the children’s deaths in the blast. Since the outbreak of this fresh violence, three more civilians have lost their lives, and protests have spread across five districts.
In response to the volatile law and order situation, the state government imposed curfew in several areas and extended the suspension of mobile internet and data services, including VPN access, in five districts-Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kakching, and Thoubal-for two additional days. On Sunday, authorities relaxed the curfew for 10 hours, from 5am to 3pm, in these districts.
Officials cited concerns over the potential spread of disinformation and rumours through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and X, which could incite mobs and lead to further violence or property damage. Broadband services (Internet Leased Line and FTTH) were conditionally restored on Wednesday, while mobile internet restrictions remain in place.
The ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities and later involved other groups, has so far resulted in at least 260 deaths and displaced around 60,000 people. The Meiteis, largely Hindu, reside mainly in the Imphal valley, while the Kukis, mostly Christian, live in the hills.
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