protests erupt over sacking of manipur “selfie” cop, internet suspended, leading to two fatalities.

Churachandpur protests: Demonstrators decry the suspension of a head constable as unjust and demand his reinstatement.

In Imphal, clashes between security forces and protesters in Manipur’s Churachandpur district resulted in at least two fatalities and 25 injuries today. The unrest erupted as hundreds of people from the Kuki-Zo tribes gathered to denounce the suspension of a head constable over a viral selfie with alleged “armed miscreants.”

Authorities have reported heightened tension in the district. Protesters converged around the Superintendent of Police’s office, demanding the reinstatement of the suspended constable, Siamlalpaul. The selfie, purportedly taken with “armed miscreants” and “village defense volunteers” atop a hill, sparked outrage.

Amid escalating tensions, protesters set ablaze a bus and other structures near the district police chief’s office. Security forces resorted to firing as the situation turned violent.

Mobile internet services have been suspended in the district due to the ongoing violence.

“The suspension order by Churachandpur Superintendent of Police Shivanand Surve stated that a departmental inquiry is being considered against Siamlalpaul of Churachandpur district police, as a clip circulating on social media allegedly shows him making a video with armed individuals on February 14.”

Ethnic tensions between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis in Manipur have resulted in gunfights between rival armed groups, self-identified as “village defense volunteers.”

The police shared on the microblogging platform X that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed tear gas shells to quell the protest in Churachandpur, situated 65 km away from the state capital Imphal.

Several protesters were injured.

“A mob numbering approximately 300-400 attempted to storm the office of SP (Superintendent of Police) CCP (Churachandpur) today, pelting stones, etc. The SF (security forces), including RAF, are employing necessary measures by utilizing tear gas shells to manage and stabilize the situation effectively.

Things are under watch,” the Manipur Police said in the post on X.

The demonstrators claim that the suspension of the head constable is unjust and are demanding his reinstatement. Churachandpur, a district predominantly inhabited by the Kuki-Zo tribes, was among the areas most severely impacted by the ethnic clashes that erupted in May 2023.

The Kuki-Zo tribes have repeatedly accused the state police of attacking their villages. However, the police have consistently denied these allegations and instead pointed to the alleged involvement of Kuki-Zo insurgents in supporting “village defense volunteers.”

In a statement released late on Thursday, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a Kuki-Zo civil society group, held the Churachandpur police chief entirely responsible for the recent incident in the district.

The ITLF claimed that videos circulating on social media in recent months have depicted Manipur Police personnel fighting alongside armed groups and targeting Kuki-Zo areas. Despite this evidence, no action has been taken against the implicated individuals, according to the ITLF.

Former Civil Society Group Leader Seeks FIR Against Manipur Police Officer

A former leader of a civil society group has written to the Manipur Police, urging them to file a case against a senior officer for allegedly threatening to kill him.

H Thangtinlen Daniel Mate, the former chief of the Tengnoupal unit of the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), detailed in the letter that he received a call from the phone number associated with Mr. Nectar, a Senior Superintendent of Police (Combat), late at night. Mate stated that he did not answer the call due to the late hour, and shortly afterward, he received a text message threatening his life.

“I have not engaged in any actions against this individual or any other person that would warrant such a life-threatening warning,” Mate asserted in the letter addressed to the officer in charge of the Tengnoupal police station on Thursday.

As of now, no FIR has been filed regarding this matter.

Colonel Nectar has a notable history, having played a crucial role in India’s surgical strikes in Myanmar in 2015. Appointed as Senior Superintendent of Police (Combat) by the Manipur government in August 2023 for a five-year term, the retired army officer brings extensive experience from his service in the 21 Para (Special Forces). He has been recognized for his bravery with awards such as the Kirti Chakra, the second-highest peacetime gallantry award, and the Shaurya Chakra, the third highest.

Comment: The ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, pitting the Kuki-Zo tribes against the Meiteis, stems from disputes over land, resources, political representation, and affirmative action policies. This conflict has persisted for nine months, resulting in the loss of over 180 lives and the displacement of 50,000 individuals.