With Internet connections cut off in Manipur after days of violence, attention is turned toward students from neighboring states who are stranded there. The students in Manipur are reportedly being evacuated from today. Last night an explosion took place not too far from the campus of Manipur University. Updates received from students at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) said that those from Nagaland as well as of the neighboring states were being evacuated and moved out around 1-2 PM.
The first incident of violence occurred during the Wednesday “Tribal Solidarity March” organized by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) to protest the Meiteis’ request for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in the Torbung area of Manipur’s Churachandpur district.
An armed mob allegedly attacked members of the Meitei community during the march in Torbung, which sparked reprisals in the valley districts and increased the level of violence across the state, according to police.
Meiteis make up approximately 53% of Manipur’s population and are primarily found in the Imphal Valley. Another 40% of the population is made up of tribes, primarily in the hill districts that encircle the Valley and include the Nagas and Kukis.
Nagaland’s home department has conveyed that helpline numbers have been activated at state police headquarters, and the Nagaland state disaster management authority to make provisions for evacuation in case the need arises.
But getting in touch with the Nagaland government authorities was not possible. If the authorities are initiating the evacuation or whether the people were moving out by their own arrangements is still unknown. The authorities are unable to be reached due to reasons of connectivity. The contact number given by the Nagaland authorities continues to be unreachable.
Reports also said there were incidences of violence in and around RIMS. Indian army informed that around 2000 people have been evacuated from Imphal.
Neighboring States Chief Ministers’ Response to the Manipur Violence
Meghalaya’s Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has appealed to the 200+ students from the state studying in Manipur to hang on tight. He added that evacuations are also being planned. He said that they are making arrangements to try and evacuate the students as soon as possible. They would be using any means of transportation possible for this cause.
Meghalaya is using special flights to transport its stranded citizens from Manipur, including, among others, 60 students and 25 members of the Lajong football team. To guarantee the safety of the passengers throughout the flight, the Meghalayan government coordinated with other governmental organizations and took all necessary safety precautions.
The chief minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, asserted that all of the state’s students studying in Manipur are secure and still residing in their respective hostels under CRPF security. According to him, more than 200 Tripura students enrolled at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, and Central Agriculture University are stuck in Manipur as a result of the violence, and the state is in close contact with the Manipur government.
Reports in the media claim that Home Minister Amit Shah spoke on the phone with the chief ministers of Assam, Mizoram, and Nagaland to discuss the current state of affairs.
