Will shut all govt. offices if SP and District Collector don’t leave Churachandpur, says tribal forum

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum issued an ultimatum to the district Superintendent of Police, Shivanand Surve, and District Collector S. Dharun Kumar to “leave the district within 24 hours”

A day after two people were killed in Manipur’s Churachandpur district during protests against the suspension of a Kuki-Zo head constable, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on February 16 issued an ultimatum to the district Superintendent of Police, Shivanand Surve, and District Collector S. Dharun Kumar to “leave the district within 24 hours”.

The ITLF, representing tribal associations in Churachandpur district, threatened to shut all government offices if these officials did not move out. The duo would be responsible if anything untoward were to happen to them, the forum said. 

Also read | Situation in Manipur tense, internet suspended after violence in Churachandpur

This came even as the Manipur government on Friday issued orders to suspend Internet services (including through VPNs) throughout Churachandpur district for five days. Security forces also conducted a flag march in the area.

The protests on Thursday night were triggered by the suspension of head constable Siamlalpaul, whom the Superintendent of Police (SP) accused of “grave misconduct” for appearing with “village [defence] volunteers” in pictures on social media.

The Manipur Police said in a post on X on Thursday night that security forces were “responding appropriately by firing tear gas shells” at the mob of 300-400 but the ITLF said the response had left two dead, including a school student, and 25 others injured. 

ITLF spokesperson Ginza Vualzong said, “The officers are not tribal-friendly. They know the situation yet they suspended a police official for merely posting videos with village volunteers. No such action is taken against security forces from the Meitei community who are seen with Arambai Tenggol [armed Meitei group]. This hurt the sentiments of the people and when they gathered at the SP’s office seeking an explanation against the suspension, tear gas was thrown to disperse the crowd. This further aggravated the mob. Soon, the situation went out of control and people torched the DC bungalow and office.”