A curfew was imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East in violence-hit Manipur and internet services were suspended in seven districts, while fresh protests erupted in Valley districts against the killing of six people, of which bodies were found in Jiribam after they were allegedly abducted by militants.

Internet has been suspended in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts for two days in view of the current situation in the northeastern state. Widespread violence was reported in parts of Imphal Valley districts as mobs stormed the residences of several MLAs and destroyed property.

A group of people attacked the house of Sapam Nishikant Singh and destroyed the gate and bunkers built in front of the gate. The same mob stormed the house of MLA RK Imo in Sagolband in Imphal West district and burnt furniture and broke windows.

Protests were witnessed in Imphal’s Khwairamband Keithel over the abduction and killing of six people – three women and three children. Their bodies were found near a river in remote Jirimukh village of Jiribam district along the Manipur-Assam border on Friday evening, sources said on Saturday.

The bodies were brought to Assam’s Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) on Friday evening and kept at the hospital’s mortuary for post-mortem.

The three women and three children living in a relief camp went missing on Monday after a battle between security forces and militants in Jiribam district, with Meita organizations claiming they were abducted by militants.

On November 11, a group of militants attacked a police station in the Borobekra area, but the assault was foiled by security forces, resulting in the death of 11 militants. While retreating, the militants allegedly abducted three women and three children from a relief camp near the police station.

A massive search operation was underway to track them down.

The state government has already declared holiday for schools and colleges on Saturday.

Tensions in Manipur, which has witnessed ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities for more than a year and a half, has recently escalated with multiple incidents of violence. Ethnically diverse Jiribam, which remained largely untouched by the clashes in the Imphal Valley and neighboring hills, suffered violence after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field in June.

Thursday, the Center reimposed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the six police station areas of Manipur including Jiribam. The Union Home Ministry said the decision was taken in light of the “continuing volatile situation” due to the ongoing ethnic violence.

More than 200 people were killed and thousands have been left homeless in ethnic clashes between Meiteis in the Imphal Valley and Kuki-Zo groups in the adjoining hills of the northeastern state since May 3 last year.

(with inputs from PTI.)