Amid prevailing violence ‘Shoot at sight’ ordered issued by Govt

Imphal: Shoot-on-sight orders have been issued in violence-hit Manipur on Thursday.

Manipur has been rocked by a wave of violent protests at the ongoing All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) solidarity march protesting against the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of Meitei’s is going.

On Wednesday, law and order was disrupted by a wave of violent protests over an alleged fake encounter in which a surrendering militant was killed.
The ‘shoot on sight’ order said, “In view of the prevailing law and order situation following the untoward incidents that took place in the tribal solidarity held on May 3, 2023, and to maintain public order and peace in the state.” , the Governor of Manipur has empowered all District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and all Executive Magistrates/Special Executive Magistrates to issue shoot-on-sight orders in extreme cases as detailed by the District Magistrates concerned. Every kind of inducement, warning, reasonable force etc. was done.The provisions of law under Cr.P.C., 1973 have lapsed and the situation could not be controlled.
Earlier, an indefinite curfew was imposed in Imphal on Tuesday after protests against the killing of a 27-year-old ex-rebel in an alleged fake encounter turned violent.

Apart from firing in the air to disperse the angry mob, the police fired teargas shells and lathi-charged the protesters. “The situation is under control, though tensions remain.
Around 11 civilians were reported injured while two others died of gunshot wounds in Saikul under Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday.

The situation worsened on Wednesday night after clashes broke out in several parts of Manipur’s hill districts during a solidarity march by ATSUM protesting against the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.
While the situation in Manipur remains tense, additional paramilitary forces have been deployed to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and suspended six policemen in connection with it.

Addressing a press conference, Singh said further action would depend on the judicial inquiry report.