Manipur Violence: SC orders state government to step up relief and recovery operations

On Monday afternoon, the Indian Army announced that more than 100 columns of the army and Assam Rifles had been putting in 96 hours of effort to improve surveillance in Manipur.

On May 8, the Supreme Court issued an order directing the Centre and the Manipur government to take the required steps to improve security and the assistance and rehabilitation provided to individuals impacted by ethnic violence in Manipur. Things in Manipur appear to be getting back to normal after a communal conflict in the northeastern state left it on blaze.

Over 10,000 members of the Assam Rifles and Indian Army have been sent to the area since May 3 when violence broke out between the Christian tribal Kuki and the Hindu Meitei. To enforce the curfew, troops were given “shoot at sight” orders under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code.

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From the damaged districts, some 23,000 people were rescued and sent to military facilities. Over 50 people died.

May 8’s morning and afternoon saw people leaving their homes to shop for groceries and other necessities in Imphal’s Thangal Bazar neighbourhood. The city’s curfew has been loosened for a while.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered both the central government and the government of Manipur to take the necessary actions to improve security and to provide aid and rehabilitation to individuals affected by the violence in Manipur.

The court also noted that no suspicious incidents had been reported there in the previous two days, according to submissions.

A court bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stressed that the effects of the violence are a “humanitarian issue” and suggested that adequate preparations be made in relief camps to guarantee that those seeking refuge there have access to basic necessities like food, rations, and medical services.

The bench received notice by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on the steps taken to stop the violence on behalf of the central government and the state of Manipur.

In addition to the Indian Army and Assam Rifles contingents, he told the court that 52 companies of the Central Armed Police Force had been posted in the affected districts. In the unrest zones, flag marches and peace meetings are also held.

The court ordered that every effort be made to help individuals who have been displaced by the violence. The court also mandated that appropriate measures be made to safeguard places of worship.

The Manipur violence hearing was postponed by the Supreme Court to May 17 and an updated status report was required from the federal and state governments by that date.

On Monday afternoon, the Indian Army announced that more than 100 columns of the army and Assam Rifles had been putting in 96 hours of effort to improve surveillance in Manipur.

On May 8, the Army announced that the use of aviation resources in Manipur was being increased and that helicopters and aerial vehicles were being deployed for surveillance in the state and along the Indo-Myanmar border.

The Army asserted that the use of these airborne capabilities will thwart any misadventure attempts by insurgent groups posted in the Manipur Valley.

They have also stated,”Employment of these assets is giving a major fillip to the effectiveness of the Army & Assam Rifles, success of which is evident on ground in Manipur not only in hinterland but also for domination of Indo Myanmar Border to prevent any misadventure attempt by Manipur Valley Based Insurgent Groups staying across in various camps.”

On May 8, at 6:30 p.m., a special aircraft transporting students from Maharashtra will land in Mumbai. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, students will depart from Imphal for the 4:30 p.m. aircraft to Guwahati.

On Sunday, the Maharashtra students who were stuck in Manipur hailed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for quickly assisting them and getting them to safety.

Similar to this, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, discussed student evacuations with N Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur, on Monday. The four Delhi-born students studying in Manipur will be relocated on Tuesday due to a dearth of accessible flights.

To allow students from a number of states, including Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Mizoram, escape, special flights have been organized across the country.