‘Manipur is burning’: Mary Kom tweets for Centre’s help as violence hits state

Boxing great MC Mary Kom requested the Centre to help quell the violence in her home state Manipur early on Thursday (May 4) even as the Army and Assam Rifles worked through the night to bring the situation under control.

“My state Manipur is burning, kindly help,” the veteran boxer tweeted in the early hours, sharing photos of the violence. She tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and a bunch of media houses.

Also read: Manipur violence: Army deployed, Amit Shah speaks to CM Biren Singh

Violence broke out in the north-eastern state during a tribal agitation on Wednesday. The Army and Assam Rifles were deployed in the night, and along with the state police, they arrested the violence by the morning, a defence spokesperson said.

4,000 people rescued

So far, the forces have rescued 4,000 people from the violence-hit areas and given them shelter, he said, adding that more people are being shifted to safer places. “Flag marches are being conducted to keep the situation under control,” he said.

The violence broke out on Wednesday during the Tribal Solidarity March called by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in Torbung area of Churachandpur district to protest the demand of the non-tribal Meiteis, who dominate the Imphal Valley, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Also read: Manipur violence: Curfew in 8 districts, mobile internet services suspended

Thousands of agitators took part in the rally, during which clashes broke out between tribals and non-tribals, and it spread to other districts, a senior police officer explained.

(With agency inputs)