On Sunday, the curfew in parts of Manipur was lifted temporarily for three hours, allowing people to purchase essential items, while Army drones and helicopters were deployed for aerial reconnaissance to ensure peace and order in the riot-affected Churachandpur town.
To quell the unrest and bring about a return to normalcy, more than 120–125 Army columns have been stationed throughout the entire riot-stricken state, while in Manipur, some 10,000 soldiers, paramilitary units, and central police personnel have been deployed. The state is working to maintain peace and get things back to normal, according to Chief Minister N Biren Singh. 23,000 residents from all communities have reportedly been saved and relocated to military garrisons, according to a statement from the defence.
According to sources, peace committees will be established in each assembly district to make sure that grassroots peace measures are carried out. For the past 96 hours, the Army and Assam Rifles columns have been working nonstop to rescue residents of all areas and stop the bloodshed. There have been no reports of significant acts of violence, and on Sunday, the curfew was loosened in Churachandpur from 7 to 10 a.m., followed by a flag march by security personnel. The army has also greatly improved its monitoring efforts over the past 24 hours by using aerial surveillance, moving unmanned aerial vehicles, and redeploying army helicopters inside Imphal Valley.
During the “Tribal Solidarity March,” which was planned by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) classification, violence broke out in the Torbung area of the Churachandpur district on May 3. Tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, coordinated the march after the Manipur High Court ordered the state administration to give a recommendation to the Centre over the Meitei community’s claim for ST status last month. An armed mob allegedly attacked members of the Meitei community during the march in Torbung, which sparked reprisals in the valley regions and increased the level of violence across the state, according to the police.
The Meitei community, who make up around 53% of Manipur’s population and reside primarily in the Imphal valley, as well as the tribal Nagas and Kukis, who make up another 40% of the state’s population and reside primarily in the hill regions, demanded ST designation, which led to the confrontations. The Army and other security services have been working arduously to uphold peace and order in the state despite the tough situation. The Chief Minister and members of several political parties have urged people to refrain from taking any actions that can fuel more violence or unrest.