Guwahati: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh paid a visit to the Telepati area in the Imphal district of the state on December 6, where two communities had engaged in violence the previous evening as a result of a land dispute regarding the construction of the temple.
Violence on the streets started after non-tribal individuals were targeted after a video went viral on social media.
Notably, vandals burned down the cars parked along the road and threw stones at both business and residential buildings in the Telepati area.
Condemning the act of violence, Akhil Assam Bhojpuri Parishad president Kailesh Gupta speaking to the media said, “I have received a phone call on the night of December 5 wherein several people pelted stones on the non-tribal people and also lit up the vehicles parked on the road.”
“The matter has been addressed to the Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and also urged him to intervene in the matter,” he added.
Meanwhile, Police were informed and were able to contain the situation; however they were forced to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Police said that the incident occurred of a false news video becoming viral on social media.
Speaking to the media, the SP of Manipur, West Imphal said, “It is a very sad incident, wherein some people have put up in social media certain clips which went viral and created this communal tension.”
“Although the situation was brought under control in the first instance, however, due to the violence it has affected the maintenance of law and order,” he added.
Section 144 has currently been implemented in the Telepati area and CRPF forces have been deployed in order to prevent any unanticipated disturbances.
It should be noted that this is not the first instance of violence to be reported from the Telepati area; in fact, the murder of a businessman with Bihar roots earlier this year also sparked tensions between the local communities.
People from all over India conduct business in the Telepati area, which is primarily a business centre. However, since the tragedy, locals have been living in fear.
“It is not a positive sign from the Manipur and the Central government on how the non-tribals or non-manipuri people are being looked upon,” stated the president of the Akhil Assam Bhojpuri Parishad.
Citing the example of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kailesh Gupta said that the way the Assam government has been working for the people and tried to minimise such incidences, the Manipur government also needs to work on the same line.
“Visited the site at Telipati, Imphal East where the unsettling incident happened yesterday. I strongly condemn the unlawful act and request that people use social media very responsibly. Prompt action will be taken against those spreading enmity,” Manipur CM said on his official social media handle.
The CM also urges the residents of the Telipati area to stop using social media and speak directly to him in order to avoid any misunderstandings. He also shares his personal phone number with them for immediate assistance.
The Manipur police are still working to find further vandalism suspects despite having already arrested at least 4 people in connection with the matter.