Violence had broken out in Manipur's Imphal East district on Sunday over the Naga economic blockade.
Manipur's Imphal East, where violence broke out on Sunday over the economic blockade in the state, will remain under curfew, the state government has decided. Mobile internet in both Imphal East and West has been banned till December 25. However the broadband service of BSNL has been restored. Additional security forces have been rushed to the Imphal East district. In Imphal West district, curfew has been relaxed till 6 pm.
In Senapati district, three vehicles, including a bus, were burnt in retaliation this morning against yesterday's violence, during which 22 vehicles had been burnt.
Violence broke out yesterday after protesters, angry over the ongoing economic blockade by Nagas and the recent terror attacks on security forces, targeted vehicles coming from the Naga-dominated hill districts towards Imphal.
They had stopped vehicles which had nearly 1000 passengers -- all on way home to Naga-dominated areas for Christmas - and set fire to the vehicles. Today, the men and women were escorted to safety in Ukhrul area by the police.
Reports from Imphal East said protesters have dug up roads so vehicles cannot move towards the Naga-dominated Ukhrul area.
The economic blockade had been started by Naga groups to protest against the state government's decision to carve out seven new districts in the state. The Naga groups allege the new districts encroach on their ancestral land.
Manipur has witnessed ethnic strife for more than 40 years as successive governments failed to address roots of the divide. It is feared that the gap will only widen ahead of next year's assembly polls and the creation of seven new districts.