DM Monitoring
New Delhi: Two strike calls given by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) paralysed life further in Manipur media reported on Tuesday. On the same day, the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Manipur high court’s order asking for internet to be restored, against which the government had moved court.
Ethnic violence first began in Manipur on May 3, in the aftermath of an order by the Manipur high court, asking the state government to look into the process of giving the majority Meitei community Scheduled Tribe status. In the days that followed, widespread destruction has led to almost 140 deaths and close to 60,000 people were displaced.
The Telegraph has reported that on Monday, the influential UNC – the apex body of 20 Naga tribes residing in Manipur – had called a 12-hour bandh from 6 am across Naga areas in the state.
This was in protest against the murder of a 55-year-old Naga woman in Imphal East on July 15.
As The Wire has reported, on Sunday, July 16, in Imphal East, the woman, Lucy Maring, who had a mental illness was found dead. She had been shot and her face disfigured. Nine people including five women have been arrested in connection with the incident, according to Manipur police.
The UNC has blamed the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol and the women activists for the murder.
Meanwhile, the COTU called a 72-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi from midnight on Sunday in protest against alleged attacks on Kuki-Zo people by Meiteis. Medical services were exempted from the shutdown.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, according to the Telegraph report, has also announced a rally in four hill districts of Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, on July 20 to push Kuki-Zo people for a separate administration for themselves.
Supreme Court on internet
The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with the Manipur high court’s order which directed the Manipur government to partially restore internet in the state, which has gone without services for close to 80 days now.
The Manipur government had moved the apex court against the order and the Supreme Court heard its plea on Monday, July 17.
LiveLaw has reported that the Supreme Court has granted liberty to the Manipur government to approach the high court.
On July 15, the Manipur government extended what was then a 73-day internet ban on the state till 3 pm on July 20.
“Any rumour is likely to ignite riots. The question of internet is sometimes open and then sometimes it is not. My prayer is that the Internet issue can be left to the discretion of those on ground, my lord,” Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, said. SG Mehta was appearing for the Manipur government.
A bench of CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra said that the government will approach the high court on “the difficulties faced in implementing its order regarding internet.”
