Manipur tense over hill districts' demand for more autonomy

The demand for more autonomy for Manipur's hill districts has turned into a serious issue, with an influential students' body - All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) - blocking two national highways, impacting vehicular movement and supplies from Assam.

Manipur special secretary (home) H Gyan Prakash in a late Saturday evening order suspended mobile internet services for five days as the administration feared that some anti-social elements were trying to fan regional divide using social media and "transmit hate speeches". The decision was taken after a vehicle was set ablaze by miscreants at Phougakchao Ikhang in Bishnupur district on Saturday evening, the authorities said.

The student body has been demanding that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 be tabled in the monsoon session of the assembly. Instead, the N Biren Singh-led BJP government introduced the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council 6th and 7th Amendment Bills, which the protesters claimed was not in line with their demands.


ATSUM was observing total shutdown in the tribal-dominated Kangpokpi and Senapati since Tuesday, after new amendments were introduced. The matter escalated on Friday after valley-based organisation Meitei Leepun locked ATSUM's Imphal office.