Situation worsens in Manipur Article 355 invoked by Central govt

Guwahati: The Center has reportedly invoked Article 355 of the Constitution in Manipur as the situation worsened in the violence-hit state on Thursday.

Article 355 of the Constitution deals with an emergency clause by which the Center can intervene and protect a state from external aggression or internal disturbances.

Additional central security forces have been deployed in riot-hit areas of Manipur.

A total of five companies of CRPF’s Rapid Action Force (RAF) were dispatched to Imphal on Thursday on the directives of the Union Home Ministry.
Army and Assam Rifles conducted a flag march in violence-hit areas.

Columns of the Army and Assam Rifles were brought in to control the situation on Wednesday night, said Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, Defense PRO Guwahati.
“The violence was contained by morning. About 4,000 people were sheltered in the Army and Assam Rifles Company operating bases and state government premises at various places. Flag marches are being carried out to bring the situation under control. Rawat said.

The Imphal-Churachandpur road has been secured by security forces to prevent further violence or disturbances in the area.
Earlier in the day, the Governor of Manipur directed all District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and all Executive Magistrates/Special Executive Magistrates to ‘in extreme cases where all persuasion, warning, reasonable force etc. have been exhausted’. He gave the authority to issue orders to shoot on sight.
Earlier, violence had erupted during the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbang area of ​​Churachandpur district on Wednesday to protest against the demand of non-tribals. For, who dominate the Imphal Valley, Schedule Tribe (ST) status.

Thousands of tribals – who form about 40 per cent of the state’s population – took part in processions, waving placards and raising slogans against granting ST status to Meitei.