Students from Manipur demand President's Rule in the state after violence kills 8

New Delhi: Scores of students from Manipur on Wednesday staged a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding imposition of President's Rule and deployment of Central forces in the Northeast state in the wake of arson and violence in Churachandpur that claimed lives of eight persons and injured many others.

The protesters demanded withdrawal of Manipur police commandos from all tribal areas in the state and urged that Central forces be deployed there.

"We have urged the Prime Minister's office and the Home Ministry to immediately impose President's Rule in Manipur as the state government is biased. We have also demanded for separate administration for hill and tribal areas of Manipur," said Chinkhanlung Guite of Manipur Tribal Students.

The protesters on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the PMO and had met MoS Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday in this regard.

The violence in Manipur was triggered by the passage of three controversial bills - the Protection of Manipur People Bill, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Bill and Manipur Shops and Establishments Bill - by the Assembly on Monday, which has caused resentment among the tribals who fear that their land rights would be snatched by "outsiders".
The protesters alleged that the Manipur Police used live bullets to quell the protest and said the state government was biased against the tribals.

"This is not the first time such partiality was exhibited. We have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deploy Central forces (there)," T Romeo Hmar, a resident of Manipur said.

The protesters also claimed that tribal people were never consulted during the entire process for the demand of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.

PTI