Curfew Declared in Lilong, Manipur Following Arson Attack on BJP Leader's Residence Over Waqf Act Support
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Synopsis
An indefinite curfew has been declared in Lilong, Manipur, following a mob attack on BJP leader Md Asker Ali's residence over his support for the Waqf Amendment Act. The situation remains tense as protests erupt in various areas, leading to an increased security presence.
Key Takeaways
- Curfew imposed in Lilong Assembly constituency.
- Mob attacked BJP leader's house for supporting Waqf Act.
- Police reported thousands participated in protests.
- Government deployed additional forces in sensitive areas.
- Waqf Amendment Act aims to enhance transparency and governance.
Imphal, April 7 (NationPress) - An indefinite curfew has been enforced across the entire Lilong Assembly constituency in Thoubal district of Manipur as of Monday, following an incident where a mob set fire to the residence of BJP minority morcha’s state President, Md Asker Ali. This act was reportedly in response to his endorsement of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, as per official reports.
The District Magistrate of Thoubal, A. Subhash Singh, stated that the Superintendent of Police (SP) reported that on Sunday evening, a mob of approximately 7,000 to 8,000 individuals, armed with lathis and stones, forcefully entered the residence of Md. Asker Ali located in Lilong Sambrukhong Mamel and set it ablaze.
Officials from the district administration indicated that the atmosphere in and around Lilong Assembly Constituency is highly charged, with potential for further unrest threatening peace and public order. In light of this, the SP urged the District Magistrate to implement prohibitory orders.
Consequently, the DM enacted the curfew under section 63 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for an indefinite duration across the Lilong Assembly Constituency.
BJP leader Ali expressed his support for the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 through social media posts on Saturday.
On Sunday, various regions in the Valley areas of Manipur also experienced protests against the Act.
Reports from the police indicated that thousands of men and women participated in a rally, disrupting traffic on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) at Lilong. The protestors clashed with security forces in various locations, including Irong Chesaba in the Thoubal district.
Demonstrations against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 were also reported in several Muslim-majority areas of Imphal East and Thoubal districts, among other locations.
The Manipur government has deployed additional security personnel in all Muslim-dominated regions, with high-ranking officials closely monitoring the evolving situation.
President Droupadi Murmu granted her approval to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on Saturday (April 5), as per a notification from the Law Ministry.
The Bill, which was passed by Parliament after extensive discussions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, aims to enhance governance by increasing transparency in property management, improving coordination between Waqf boards and local authorities, and safeguarding the rights of stakeholders.
