Imphal, May 7 (IANS): Even as tension prevails in several Manipur districts and the Army and central para-military forces continued their vigil in the strife-torn areas, the administration in the most volatile Churachandpur district relaxed the curfew on Sunday for three hours from 10 a.m.
Churachandpur District Magistrate Sharath Chandra Arroju in a notification said the subsequent relaxations will be reviewed and notified based on the assessment of the prevailing law and order situation.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in a tweet said: "With the law and order situation improving in Churachandpur district and after talks were held between the state government and various stakeholders, I'm pleased to share that the curfew will be partially relaxed..."
Defence release on Sunday said that "ray of hope due to efforts of 120-125 Army and Assam Rifles columns, who are working tirelessly for the past 96 hours to rescue civilians across all communities, curb violence and restore normalcy, has emerged with no major violence being reported, and curfew, therefore being relaxed from 7-10 a.m. on Sunday in Churachandpur followed by flag march by security forces immediately thereafter".
Past 24 hours also witnessed the Army significantly enhancing surveillance efforts through aerial surveillance through the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Army helicopters within Imphal Valley.
Over 23,000 civilians have been rescued till now and were moved to own Army operating bases and military Garrisons, the sources said.
In the wake of the ongoing unrest in Manipur, over 2,000 men, women and children have crossed the border into Assam's Cachar district and sheltered in seven government sponsored camps and more than 200 people, mostly women and children took shelter in Mizoram's Saitual and Vairengte districts.
Manipur government's newly-appointed security advisor Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF chief, said that at least 28 to 30 people were killed in the series of ethnic violence in different districts of Manipur.
However, local media quoting hospital sources said that at least 50 to 55 people, including women, have been killed in the attacks and counter attacks by the rival ethnic groups in at least six districts since May 3.
"Over 100 people have been injured in these attacks. More than 500 houses, along with a large number of vehicles, shops and other properties were either burnt down or damaged in these attacks since May 3," Singh told the media in Imphal.
He said that 23 police stations in different districts have been identified as most vulnerable and the Army and Central Armed Police Forces were adequately deployed in these areas.
Flag marches by the Army and Assam Rifles are continuing in over six districts, especially in the most volatile Churachandpur district, Singh said.
In view of the prevailing unrest in Manipur, the Central government has already imposed Article 355 in the state to bring the situation under control.
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