Strife-torn Manipur state, whose name means land of jewels, has been on the boil for more than a month over the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives troops the right to arrest and shoot at suspected rebels.
“More violence is expected now because people are determined to force the government to lift the Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” said Ibomcha Singh, a senior lawmaker, by phone from the state capital, Imphal.
Local residents said heavily armed troops patrolled Imphal’s deserted streets as most offices, schools and markets remained shut. Authorities have imposed a night curfew on several towns in the remote state that borders Myanmar.
In a massive crackdown on anti-government protesters, police have arrested around two dozen leaders, including several women, since late Thursday.
In protest against the arrests, the Apunba Lup, an umbrella organisation of 32 groups spearheading the campaign for withdrawal of the anti-terror law, has turned down an offer for talks with federal interior minister Shivraj Patil.
“More arrests are in the offing. We want them (leaders) to be in jail so that they can’t instigate the people,” said a senior police officer in Imphal.
Patil told reporters in New Delhi the government was open to talks, but was “not really” considering imposing federal rule in the state.
“If the situation does not improve or becomes more difficult, appropriate action in this respect can be taken by the government of India,” Patil said.
“We don’t want to do anything in anger.”
People in Manipur took to the streets more than a month ago after a 30-year-old woman was killed by troops who suspected her of involvement in a revolt that has plagued the state for decades.
The state government of Manipur lifted the law partially by scrapping it in Imphal and some surrounding areas last week but the move failed to stop protests.
Fresh trouble was sparked by the deaths of a man and woman on Monday from injuries suffered in protests against the anti-terror law.
One of the two, Pabam Chittaranjan, a 32-year-old student leader, died of burns suffered when he set himself on fire in a deserted market on Sunday.
“It is better to self-immolate than to die at the hands of the security forces under the act,” Chittaranjan said in a note before his immolation attempt. “With this conviction, I am marching ahead of the people as a human torch.”
Chittaranjan’s family refused to take the dead body following the government’s refusal to allow them to hold a public funeral. Finally, police cremated the body.
