Manipur Violence: Curfew imposed in 5 valley districts

The authorities have imposed 24-hour curfew in all five valley districts of north eastern Indian state of Manipur, hit by ethnic strife, as a preventive measure following a call by an outfit demanding removal of security barricade at a particular place, officials said.

The curfew took effect last evening.

The cancellation of curfew relaxation hours from 5:00am to 6:00pm in Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal West and Imphal East comes in the wake of the call by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and its women wing requesting people from all parts of the valley districts to remove an army barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district, a few kilometres away from Churachandpur, on Wednesday, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting officials.

Manipur government spokesperson Sapam Ranjan told reporters in Imphal, the state capital, that "the government appeals to COCOMI to withdraw the proposed plan to storm the army barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai near Torbung on September 6".

COCOMI media coordinator Somendro Thokchom said the committee had earlier urged the government and the authorities concerned to remove the barricade by August 30.

While urging people to storm the barricade, Thokchom said the state government should take full responsibility if anything untoward happens.

Locals said because of the barricade at Phougakchao Ikhai, they were not able to visit their homes at Torbung, which they had vacated after ethnic violence had erupted on May 3.

The ethnic conflict between majority Meteis and minority Kukis have claimed over 160 lives in Manipur since May 3 and rendered nearly 50,000 people homeless.