Imphal: The curfew imposed in Manipur’s Churachandpur district as a precautionary measure for maintaining law and order was lifted on Wednesday (April 16).
The curfew was first enforced on April 8 as tensions between the Zomi and Hmar tribal groups in the region escalated.
The curfew, despite being intended to remain in effect until April 21, was lifted on April 16 due to an improved law and order situation.
District Magistrate Dharun Kumar enforced the curfew under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which banned unauthorized processions, illegal assemblies of five or more persons, and the use of weapons, such as sticks and stones.
However, government forces and emergency services have been exempted from the purview of the curfew imposition.
Even after the curfew was lifted, increased security measures are still in place, with both central and state forces deployed to sensitive locations in the district after an explosion had taken place, officials said.
Reports stated that a bomb exploded at the Jamsuan and Sahei road junction in the New Lamka area of Churachandpur district around 1 am on Thursday.
Locals complain that they have heard the sound of a loud explosion after some miscreants coming on two-wheelers left the areas close to Zenhang Lmaka cemetery, where an explosion occurred at around 9.45 pm on April 4.
The explosion created fear among the locals, though it did not cause casualties or damage in the areas.
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The Central Village Defence Force (CVDF), the Elim village authority, the Young Paite Association, the Paite Tribe Council, and locals strongly condemned the incident.
The Force vowed to investigate both the incidents that occurred on April 4 and April 16.
