Manipur saw a serious agitation on Monday evening where seven houses of the MPs and MLAs were set on fire. The malicious crime which leads to this heinous output lead to the state authorities imposing an indefinite curfew in the district headquarters at Churchandpur district in Manipur. Seven houses that belonged to a minister in the Manipur Government, one MP and five other MLAs were set on fire. At least 4 people are killed and 13 are hurt during the tragic mob fury.
The massive arson took place after the Assembly passed the three bills to protect the indigenous people of Manipur. A police officer said the houses of the MP of Outer Manipur Thangso Baite, the state’s minister-in-charge for Family Welfare Phungzaphang Tonsimg and five MLAs, including Manga Vaiphei of Henglep Assembly constituency and Vungzagin Valte of Thanlom, were torched.
The bills passed in the Assembly are the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, and The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second amendment) Bill, 2015. However, the decision has caused uproar and seeing the miserable condition of the district an indefinite curfew has been imposed in the hilly town of Churchandpur.
As reported one of an arsonist has been hospitalized while setting fire on the houses and is suffering from serious injuries. An officer who is investigating the case said ‘three tribal students’ organizations, which had called a 12-hour bandh today in the hill districts to protest against the passing of some Bills in the Manipur Assembly, are suspected to be behind the arson.
Three bodies were found in Churachandpur town and one charred body was recovered from the debris at the residence of MLA Manga Vaiphei of Henglep assembly constituency on Tuesday, a police officer said.
It was Kuki and Anga tribal organizations who imposed their views saying that the bills so passed are against the spirit of Article 371C and Manipur Hill People Administration Regulation Act of 1947 that safeguard the rights of the tribal people over land and resources.
According to the reports presented b the Joint Committee on inner Line Permit system, “the combined population of the indigenous people living in the hills and plains of Manipur is around 18-19 lakh, while the outsiders, including those from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, account for more than 10 lakh out of the state’s total population of 28 lakh.”
