Global Courant
GUWAHATI – Indian police have dismissed as “false and misleading” reports that a mob attacked the private home of Biren Singh, chief minister of the conflict-torn northeastern state of Manipur, adding that it was protected by “adequate security “.
Thursday’s comments followed reports from media outlets including Reuters as protests rocked the state capital Imphal, injuring more than 80 people, before returning from an uneasy calm on Friday.
“The news that the chief minister’s personal residence is being harassed is false and misleading,” the state police said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “There is already sufficient security in place.”
Ethnic violence has embroiled the Myanmar-bordering state in what many security experts describe as an intense civil war over land, jobs and political power between the Meitei majority and minority Kuki tribes.
There was no violence on Friday, despite some protesters defying curfews in parts of the city as police and paramilitary forces stood guard to control the situation.
“The curfew, as there is no mobile internet available, is making life a complete hell,” said student Subhash Singh in Imphal, where only a few grocers and pharmacies were allowed to open to facilitate purchase of essential items and medicines.
Authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew in Imphal and some areas following clashes on Wednesday following protests against the alleged kidnap and murder of two students.
Mobile internet services have been suspended in the state for five days.
Since the violence first broke out on May 3, more than 180 people have been killed, most of them Kukis, and more than 50,000 people have fled their homes in Manipur.
While buffer zones have emerged across the state between the areas dominated by the two communities, the latest round of protests has been largely confined to the Meitei-controlled area of the Imphal Valley.
More than half of the state’s 3.2 million residents belong to the Meitei community, while the Kuki community, which makes up about 16%, lives largely in the hills.
The two students, whose bodies were found this week after going missing in July, were from the Meitei community.
Their families and community leaders have accused Kuki militants of killing them, while criticizing authorities for failing to stop the violence.
A federal investigative body is now investigating the case.
The Prime Minister, who belongs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, denounced the suspected murder and vowed maximum punishment for the perpetrators.
Leaders of the opposition Congress party have accused the Modi government of failing to control violence in a state ruled by his Hindu nationalist party. Modi’s government says it remains committed to restoring peace through dialogue. REUTERS
