'Manipur is burning'

NT Correspondent

Imphal: Manipur government on Thursday issued 'shoot at sight' order in "extreme cases" to contain spiralling violence in the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages.

 Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain widespread rioting that broke out across Manipur between tribals and the majority Meitei community, displacing over 9,000 people. The Centre, which is monitoring the situation in Manipur, also dispatched teams of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised force to handle riots, for deployment in violence-hit areas of the Northeastern state.

Clashes broke out on Wednesday which intensified over night with counter-attacks being mounted by rival communities in retaliation to earlier attacks, after Naga and Kuki tribals organised a 'Tribal Solidarity March' to protest moves to give scheduled tribe status to the majority Metei community.

The 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who account for 53 per cent of the state's population, for ST status. "My state Manipur is burning, kindly help," the veteran boxer tweeted in the early hours, sharing photos of the violence, and tagging Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.