Manipur: Section 144 imposed, internet banned after fresh violence erupts in Churchandpur

Imphal: Section 144 was imposed while a ban was put on the internet after fresh violence erupted in Manipur on Monday. The curfew was extended until February 18 along with the suspension of internet services in Churchandpur. 

A mass burial of 87 victims of Manipur violence were witnesses on Sunday which led the government to put precautionary prohibitory orders under Crpc. 

Tension on Sunday flared between Kiku-Zo community amid the disagreements among the tribes regarding the nomenclature of the mass burial ground in Churchandpur. On Wednesday, a collective burial is scheduled on Wednesday. 

CBI director visit to Imphal to assess the investigation into ethnic violence 

On Monday evening, CBI Director Praveen Sood arrived in Imphal from Guwahati assess the investigation into the ethnic violence. He also held a meeting with officials of Special Investigation Team.

He was directed by the Supreme Court to meticulously examining the progress of the investigation, previously handled by the State police. The CBI is currently investigating 27 cases related to the peak of violence.

The visit, after the directives of the Apex Court of India has been chalked out scrupulously  and will scrutinize in detail the progress made so far in the investigation under DIG rank officials. Earlier on Monday, he already met officers of the SIT, who are investigating six cases related to the violence, including a case related to killing of two minors and the viral incident of naked parade.

The visit of Director is past the procedural review and is aimed towards accelerating the probe in conformity with the apex court's view of an unbiased investigation,  sources privy to the developments have informed Republic Digital. 

"The visit of the CBI director is not just a routine visit. We have been instructed to be up to date with all the progress made so far in the investigation. He is keenly following all the developments with one clear view that no offender should go free and no innocent person should be made an accused," said an official of the CBI.

The significance of Sood's visit to the State stems from the accusations of partiality in the probe made by some Civil Society Organizations. Some CSOs from the hills had earlier accused the SIT of being biased towards the Meitei community. However, these allegations have been already refuted by the top brass of police and agencies involved in the investigation.

The director of the CBI is visiting the State during a period when reports of violent occurrences are still coming in. An enraged crowd recently trashed the home of former police officer Brinda Thounaojam after her interview with a journalist went viral.

Speaking to Republic Media, a top Home department official said that the situation, though tranquil, is still unstable. "The situation is still volatile. So, we can just advise people to be more cautious while dealing with the situation," he said.