Uneasy calm in Manipur’s hill districts after two days of protests

Normalcy is gradually returning in the hill districts of Manipur on Saturday after two days of violent uproar, but palpable tension prevails in the area.
The overall situation is gradually improving with no untoward incident related to the people’s uproar reported today, official sources said.
Fresh violent protests erupted in parts of the three hill districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal late on Wednesday as residents of the Kuki dominated districts protested against three Kuki MLAs joining the formation a new BJP-led government, with Yumnam Khemchand Singh as chief minister.
The residents of these districts were protesting three legislators belonging to the Kuki and other tribes joining the formation of the popular government.
Sources here said that the protests were largely confined to Tuibong of Churachandpur, Saikul of Kangpokpi and Moreh of Tengnoupal district. The sources added that adequate measures to prevent escalation of the protests were taken up and these areas were under strict vigil by police and security forces.
The situation began improving with daily life resuming with reopening of shops, vehicles plying on the roads, and people returning to work even though an underlying fear, unease, or risk of further violent protest remains. However, in the Tuibong area of Churachandpur district, shops continued to shut with only few public transport vehicles on the roads, the sources said.
In Churachandpur, the sources added, the protest was largely confined to the streets in Tuibong and Kangvai area of the district headquarters.
The violent protest at certain locations in these areas prompted security forces to step up measures to prevent the escalation of the violence. No fresh incidents were reported on Saturday, the sources said.
The district administration has also reportedly kept additional security personnel on standby to ensure law and order. On February 4 when the BJP-led popular government was installed with Y Khemchand as chief minister, BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen, who represents Kangpokpi Assembly Constituency of Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district, took oath as deputy chief minister.
Apart from her, two other MLAs from Churachandpur – LM Khaute, and Ngursanglung Sanate – attended the swearing-in ceremony held at Imphal Lok Bhavan.
Protesters alleged that the decision of the legislators to join the government went against the collective stand and political aspirations of the tribe.
Separate total shutdown stirs announced amid the flaring up tensions led to the violent uproars.
Bodies of Kuki tribes have been demanding a separate administration for the Kuki tribe, citing that they can no longer live together with the Meitei after the unfolding of the violent crisis in May 2023.