After 45 days of civil unrest in Manipur, Indian authorities announced on Sunday that they had begun relaxing the curfew imposed in the violence-hit state.
The move is aimed at reducing public anger and restoring normalcy on the streets.
Diana Devi, a local government official based in the capital city of Imphal, told the foreign media that “We have decided to remove the curfew from 5 am until 5 pm to enable residents to buy food, medicines, and other essentials.”
The relaxation would provide an opportunity for the populace to tend to their basic needs, Devi added.
The unrest in Manipur began on May 3, triggered by protests from indigenous communities who were aggrieved by the distribution of economic benefits and reserved quotas for government jobs and education.
The Kukis, an ethnic group primarily residing in the hills, demanded these privileges, while the Meiteis, the dominant community in the lowlands comprising half of the state’s population, sought an extension of limited affirmative action quotas to themselves.
Tensions escalated as Kukis feared that granting quotas to Meiteis would reduce their own share in education and government jobs reserved for them. The resulting violence has claimed the lives of 83 individuals, according to recent records from the federal home ministry. Additionally, over 60,000 residents have been displaced since May.
In a notable incident last week, the house of a federal minister belonging to the Meitei community was set on fire in Imphal, further fueling tensions. Neighboring states, which have provided shelter to the displaced population, have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to release the necessary funds for feeding the refugees.
Leaders from the opposition party have criticized the Modi government for its failure to contain the crisis in a state governed by the same party. “We believe that if the prime minister takes action, then peace in Manipur can be restored in 24 hours,” stated Nimaichand Luwang, an opposition lawmaker in Manipur.
To aid in restoring normalcy, a senior home ministry official in New Delhi announced that at least 32,000 security forces would continue to support the local police in Manipur until the situation stabilizes.
