Everyone wondered about the sudden notification issued late at night on Saturday imposing curfew restrictions beginning from 7 am of September 1, Sunday by the Imphal West district administration. As an afterthought a few minutes later, another notification came declaring a relaxation period from 10 pm to 7 am of September 2. The notification announcing the restrictions was issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which is the new version of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the said section is similar to Section 144.
The first notification informing citizens to remain indoors and not venture outside their homes was issued by the District Magistrate of Imphal West Th Kirankumar and the second notification regarding relaxations was issued by the Additional District Magistrate, Imphal West District, Shamim Ahmad Shah. It stated that the move was taken due to the developing of law and orders in the district and there is need to relax the restriction of movement to facilitate the general public to purchase the essential items including medicines and food items. It maintained that the relaxation will not include any gathering/sit-in-protest/rally etc. without obtaining approval through competent authority.
The first order mentioned that it was issued under Section 144 of the code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 in view of Superintendent of Police, Imphal West vide letter No. 6/14/SP-1W/2024/11387 dated August 28 stating that there is apprehension regarding likelihood of serious breach of peace, disturbance to the public tranquillity or riots, or an affray in the area and grave danger to human lives and properties because of the unlawful activities of some anti-social elements, thereby requesting to issue/extend prohibitory orders under sub-section (2) of Section 163 BNSS, 2023 to the whole area situated within revenue jurisdiction of Imphal West District, Manipur with immediate effect.
One must note that, general restrictions prohibiting gathering of more than five persons and carrying of arms under Section 144 was already there in the whole of the valley with relaxations announced every now and then. But, asking citizens not to venture out of their homes is a curfew imposition which may further lead to shoot at sight orders.
General restrictions or curfew restrictions are generally issued on the advice of the district police authorities who again rely on intelligence inputs. In case of extraordinary situations, approval of top security officials and political establishment is taken before issue of such prohibitory orders. In the present instance, the approval of the Security Advisor must have been sought. It was strange that no curfew restrictions were announced in case of August 31 rally in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi where there was every likelihood of violence in the radar, and indeed the rally became violent in both districts.
The Saturday late night order in Imphal West district must have been issued on the basis of intelligence inputs, although no violent incidents were reported in the district nor of any impending riot or violence.
Yes, the women wing of COCOMI did issue a statement on Saturday evening cautioning the government that they will resist seizure of arms from village defence volunteers unless the government provides a written assurance of full security in vulnerable areas against attacks from Kuki militants. Of late, the intensity of search operations by state forces along with central forces had increased particularly in the fringe areas of the valley and adjoining hillsides.
Also, recoveries of arms and ammunition were made in many places. So, it is indeed surprising that Kuki militants are able to attack valley villages in Imphal West on Sunday. Besides, there were no quick or adequate responses to stop the attacks by the forces. On the other hand, the administration is ready to impose curfew and other restrictions in the valley as soon as they detect a scent of violent resistance or retaliation from the valley population.
While the Manipur government makes ‘strong’ statements every now and then, they are still unable to protect the lives and properties of the fringe villages in the valley. Indeed, the state has failed to deliver on its promises of action or maintenance of law and order. If Chief Minister N Biren Singh allows such a situation to continue or unwilling to wrest back the command of Unified Command, he has no right to continue as well.
