Thirteen persons were killed and more than 50 injured in violence and police firing as Manipur exploded with people protesting against the Indian government's move to extend the ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac Muviah) from the Nagaland state to all territories. Unofficial sources put the death toll at 32.
Manipuris fear that the ceasefire is a prelude to the government agreeing to the demands of the NSCN (IM) that the Nagaland state include all Naga-inhabited areas. Many such areas lie in Manipur, besides parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (which states have also opposed the ceasefire extension). The Centre has consistently denied any such move.
After the protestors torched the Manipur Assembly when the speaker and some legislators were inside (who luckily survived the attack), an indefinite curfew was imposed in three districts of the state - Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal.
The Samata Party, a leading party in the state, was strongly opposed to the extension of the ceasefire, and had warned the Union government against it. Former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitly said the Centre should have kept the wishes and aspirations of the people of Manipur in mind while extending the ceasefire with the NSCN (IM).
Join Jaya Jaitly to find out more about the situation in Manipur, why the Manipuris resent the deal, and what is in store for the Northeast when she appears on The Rediff Chat on Wednesday, 22 June at 1400 hours IST (0430 hours EDT).
RELATED LINKS:
Jaya Jaitly, Sonia call for peace in Manipur
Manipur curfew relaxed for two hours, reimposed
Manipur government allows mass cremation of bodies
NSCN (I-M) agrees to extend
ceasefire in Nagaland
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