Manipur: Churachandpur limps back to normalcy after two days of protests
Imphal/Churachandpur (PTI): Normalcy began returning to parts of Manipur's Churachandpur district on Saturday morning after two days of protests, police said.
The violent protests began on Thursday after three BJP legislators from the Kuki-Zo and Hmar communities joined Meitei MLAs to form a government in the ethnic strife-hit state.
MLA Nemcha Kipgen joined the Y Khemchand Singh-led government as deputy chief minister, while LM Khaute and N Sanate supported her.
The demonstrations were largely confined to the stretch between Tuibong and Kangvai in Churachandpur town, unlike earlier instances when disturbances had spread across the district headquarters, police said.
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While most areas of Churachandpur town witnessed a resumption of business activities, several shops in the Tuibong area remained closed, they said.
Additional security forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents, they added.
Two tribal bodies imposed a "total shutdown" in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur, while rallies were held in Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts, alleging that the legislators betrayed their community.
The Kuki-Zo groups have been demanding a separate administrative unit for them, as the violence that broke out in May 2023 deeply divided the state on ethnic lines, with members of the two communities not venturing into each other's areas.
Over 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced in the ethnic clashes. The state has been under the President's Rule for one year, before Singh took oath as the chief minister on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Zomi Council, the apex body of the Zomi tribe, has summoned the three legislators who joined the government to appear before its office within three days.
In a statement issued on Friday night, the Churachandpur-based civil organisation said the legislators were elected with the expectation that they would represent the rights, voices and aspirations of the community.
However, their recent actions have caused widespread public dismay, it said.
The council warned that failure to respond to its "call for dialogue" would compel it to take appropriate organisational measures, including prohibiting the legislators' entry into the Zomi Council premises.
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Assam Police at Pawan Khera's residence in national capital, Delhi Police assisting
New Delhi (PTI): An Assam Police team on Tuesday is at the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera for questioning in connection with a case linked to allegations made against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his family, official sources said.
The team formally informed Delhi Police upon arrival, following which a local police team joined and is assisting in the proceedings, the source said.
The development comes amid a political tussle after Sarma alleged that the Congress used "false information" sourced from a Pakistani social media group to level charges against his wife regarding multiple passports and overseas assets. He termed the allegations an attempt to influence the Assam elections and a punishable offence.
Khera had recently sought clarifications on Sarma's wife's alleged foreign assets, prompting a complaint and subsequent police action.
