The National People’s Party (NPP), led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, has withdrawn its support from the BJP-led government in Manipur due to ongoing ethnic unrest. Although the NPP’s seven MLAs do not threaten the BJP’s majority, this move highlights growing political tensions.
In a letter, the NPP criticizes Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s administration for failing to address the escalating violence and restore normalcy, following the recent tragic deaths of six individuals in Jiribam district.
Reacting to the situation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah canceled his election rallies in Maharashtra to review Manipur’s security with top officials, urging immediate measures for peace. In Imphal Valley, violent protests erupted as mobs targeted the homes of BJP legislators and a Congress MLA, setting them ablaze.
Properties were vandalized, but no officials or their families were present during the attacks. Protesters also attempted to reach Chief Minister Biren Singh’s ancestral home, stopped only by a security cordon as they set fires on nearby roads.
In response to the unrest, authorities imposed an indefinite curfew across several districts, including Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching, and suspended internet services in seven districts to curb misinformation. Security forces like Assam Rifles and BSF increased patrols to protect affected areas.
The violent chaos, fueled by ethnic clashes since May 2023, also saw the burning of two churches and homes in Jiribam town. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a civil society coalition, has demanded immediate military action against the militants, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the government. Amid these tensions, the state government, led by Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, has heightened security efforts, underscoring the fragile situation in the region.
