Authorities in Manipur's Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur on Saturday curtailed the curfew relaxations, apprehending major protests by women in these districts.
Tensions erupted on Saturday afternoon after scores of women gathered outside Singjamei Police station in Imphal West district to protest against the critical injury suffered by a nine-month pregnant woman hit by tear gas shells during the students’ protests earlier this week. The 34-year-old woman’s child was stillborn and her own condition is stated to be critical at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal.
The emotionally charged women protesters accused the authorities of "murdering" the unborn child and leaving the mother in critical condition.
Senior police officials are seeking to convince the women protesters not to violate the curfew orders and return to their homes.
A spokesperson of the protestors said that despite medical efforts, the woman's condition worsened and remains critical, with a massive intracranial bleed detected during a CT scan conducted on Friday.
With no fresh incidents reported, the District Magistrates of Imphal East, Imphal West, and Thoubal had, on Friday, issued separate orders relaxing the curfew for 11 hours (from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on Saturday.
"Due to the developing law and order situation in the district, the relaxation orders stand cancelled with immediate effect from 2 p.m. on September 14," Imphal West's Additional District Magistrate K. Jadumani Singh said in an order.
Similar orders were also issued by the District Magistrates of Imphal East and Bishnupur districts.
However, no such order was issued by the Thoubal district authority.
During the relaxation of curfew, thousands of people rushed to markets to buy vegetables, food, and other necessities and also to the banks and other offices to perform essential tasks.
A police official said that security in these districts would remain tightened and the patrolling of paramilitary and other central and state forces would continue as usual.
Strife-torn Manipur witnessed a series of violent incidents since September 1, with the suspected militants gunned down at least 12 people, including two women, elderly persons and a retired soldier and injured over 20 others in different districts. Of the 12 deaths, six were killed in mixed-populated Jiribam, adjoining southern Assam.
In view of the escalating violence, mobile Internet service was suspended on September 10 in five districts -- Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching -- for five days (till September 15). The Higher and Technical Education Department and the Directorate of Education, in two separate orders, closed all schools, colleges and technical institutions till September 14, considering the prevailing law and order situation in the state.
HM Shah stresses on mapping of demographic data of people along India-Myanmar border
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the demographic data of people along the India-Myanmar border, especially in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur, should be mapped so that it can help in fencing of the border and infiltration can be stopped.
Drugs worth Rs 78 crore seized in Tripura, one held
In a major haul, the Assam Rifles in coordination with the other law enforcing agencies on Saturday seized 3.9 lakh methamphetamine tablets valued at around Rs 78 crore and arrested a drug peddler in Tripura, officials said on Saturday.
Manipur: Arms and ammunition recovered; two held with drugs
Manipur Police and other security forces recovered some arms and ammunition from different fringe and vulnerable areas and arrested two persons with drugs on Saturday, officials said.
New Maha Cabinet: Fadnavis keeps Home, Shinde gets Urban Development, Ajit Pawar in charge of Finance
Finally, the wait is over. Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday approved the portfolio allocation to the ministers as recommended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The list was released after the conclusion of a weeklong winter session.
Explained: Key recommendations of 55th GST Council meet
From reducing GST rate on fortified rice kernel (FRK) to fully exempt GST on gene therapy, the 55th GST Council meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday made some key recommendations to provide relief to individuals and businesses.
India a natural trade and commerce partner of Kuwait: PM Modi
India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait and continues to be so in contemporary times and people-to-people linkages over centuries have fostered a special bond of friendship between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar brings peace through meditation to UN headquarters consumed by global turmoil
Eighteen minutes of tranquility descended on the world organisation’s headquarters consumed by global turmoil as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar led a meditation session as a path to peace at the United Nations.
NE not just strategically important but also an epitome of nation's diversity, culture: Minister
Union Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar on Friday underscored the strategic importance of the northeastern region and said that the region is not just a geographically significant part of the country but it is also an epitome of the nation's diversity, culture, and strategic importance.