Curfew in Manipur's Jiribam after protests over killing of man

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After protests over the death of a 59-year-old man by suspected militants, the Manipur government declared an indefinite curfew in the Jiribam district, an official said on Friday. Following the recovery of Soibam Saratkumar Singh's body, some residents set fire to a few abandoned buildings, leading to the lifting of the prohibitory orders on Thursday night.

Following the man's death, residents staged protests on Friday morning, which kept the situation tense but under control. "There is the likelihood of widespread disturbance to peace and public tranquillity or riot or an affray because of unlawful activities of anti-social elements," the official said, citing the orders issued by the Office of District Magistrate Jiribam.

The local administration also prohibited "assembly of five persons or more, which is likely to turn unlawful, carrying of firearms, sticks... and movement of any person outside their respective residences within the revenue jurisdiction of the district". Singh vanished on Thursday morning after leaving for his farm, and a police officer reported that his body was later discovered with cuts from a sharp object.

In front of Jiribam Police Station, the locals had organised a protest, calling for restoring their legally owned firearms seized during the electoral process. The district's administration made a plea to the populace to keep calm.

"Jiribam district is facing a difficult time in terms of law and order, public peace and tranquillity", a notice said, adding that "an appeal is made to all sections of society...to maintain peace and calm and not succumb to any false information". The district magistrate also requested the Jiribam superintendent of police to "identify vulnerable pockets and deploy security forces to avoid unwanted incidents".

To facilitate prompt communication between the district's security forces, a combined control centre with representatives from the Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Manipur Police, and Indian Reserve Battalion has also been established. With a mixed ethnic population that includes Muslims, Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis, and non-Manipuris, Jiribam has not been impacted by the ethnic conflict that has been raging in Manipur since May of last year. Over 200 people have died and many more have become homeless as a result of the ethnic violence between the Meiteis, who live in the Imphal Valley, and the Kukis, who live in the highlands.

(With Inputs from PTI)