‘Shoot-at-sight’ orders issued after violence in India’s Manipur

Authorities in the northeast Indian state of Manipur have issued “shoot-at-sight” orders as soldiers patrol the streets and enforce a curfew to quell violence between tribal and non-tribal groups, officials said on Thursday.

To prevent more violence, state Governor Anusuiya Uikey issued an order on Thursday authorising magistrates to shoot protesters “in extreme cases where warnings and reasonable force don’t work”. District magistrates oversee the police and can act as judges for minor offences.

India’s Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah spoke to N Biren Singh, the chief minister of Manipur, on Thursday and decided to send reinforcements from the federal Rapid Action Force to restore peace in the state.

Indian army officials told local media that about 9,000 people were evacuated from violence-hit districts to other areas and being sheltered in government premises and army camps after protesters vandalised shops and businesses, including hotels, and set some homes on fire.

(Aljazeera)