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Imphal, May 05, 2023 (PPI-OT):A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was attacked by a mob in Indian state Imphal. A mob attacked a BJP MLA, Vungzagin Valte, in Imphal while he was returning from the state secretariat after a meeting with Chief Minister N Biren Singh. This comes amid a deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur after violence broke out across the state between tribals and the majority Meitei community.
Vungzagin Valte, a three-time MLA from Thanlon in Pherzawl district, was on his way to his official residence in Imphal when the attack took place. The MLA and his driver were attacked by the irate mob while his personal security officer (PSO) managed to escape. The lawmaker is currently in critical condition and undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal.
On Wednesday, a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) in the ten hill districts of the state to protest the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who account for 53 per cent of the state’s population, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
During the march in Torbung area of Churachandpur district, an armed mob attacked people of the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated the violence throughout the state. Many shops and houses were vandalised, and gutted in arson that lasted for more than three hours in Torbung. After mobile internet services, broadband services have now been suspended in Manipur in a bid to contain the violence and spread of rumour.
Fifty-five columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed to contain widespread rioting that broke out across Manipur. The Manipur Governor on Thursday gave his approval to shoot at sight order in the state.
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