Manipur violence: 9 people have been killed and 10 others injured in fresh violence this morning in Khamenlok area, Imphal East. Postmortem procedure underway, said Shivkanta Singh, SP Imphal East on Wednesday.
The latest violent incident is a huge setback for the Centre and state government as they were assuming that things are falling into place after Home Minister Amit Shah’s Manipur visit.
The militants armed with sophisticated weapons surrounded the villagers of the Khamelok area bordering Imphal East district and Kangpoki district and launched the attack at around 1 am, the police said.
The injured have been admitted to Imphal hospital, they said. The area lies along the borders of the Meitei-dominated Imphal East district and tribal-majority Kangpokpi district.
Earlier, on Monday night nine people were injured in a gunfight in the Khamenlok area in exchange of fire between militants and village volunteers. The security forces also exchanged fire with Kuki militants at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district on Tuesday, they said. The Kuki militants were trying to make bunkers close to Meitei localities when they were challenged by security forces resulting in the exchange of fire. Meanwhile, the district authorities have cut short the curfew relaxation hours from the usual 5 am to 6 pm in Imphal East and Imphal West to 5 am to 9 am.
At least 100 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that broke out a month ago. Army and para-military personnel were deployed to restore peace in the state.
Curfew remains in force in 11 of the 16 districts of Manipur, while internet services are suspended in the entire northeastern state.
Over 50,000 people, who have been displaced by the ethnic violence in Manipur, are currently staying at around 349 relief camps across the state, a minister said in Imphal today (June 11). State Information and Public Relations Minister Dr RK Ranjan said combing operations have been launched in all districts, particularly in vulnerable areas.
He said 53 arms and 39 bombs have been recovered during the operation. Ranjan, who is also the government spokesperson, said a road map for education of students, which has been affected due to the ethnic clashes, has been chalked out and would be made public soon.
“Altogether 50,698 people displaced by the ethnic violence are currently sheltered at 349 relief camps,” said an official statement quoting the minister.
District and cluster nodal officers have been asked to look after the relief centres which have been opened especially for women, elderly people and children. A price control mechanism has been put in place to check the price rise of essential commodities, he said, adding that various goods are being brought to the state through NH- 37.
As much as 35,000 metric tonnes of construction materials, fuels and essential commodities have been taken to Manipur in 2,376 trucks since violence erupted in early May, the statement said. Altogether 198 of the existing 242 bank branches are now operational, and the rest would be made functional at the earliest, Ranjan said.
Notably, a large numbers of weapons were looted from police stations in early May when ethnic violence broke out in the state. Both Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have appealed to people to surrender their weapons.
Overall 990 arms and 13,526 ammunition have been surrendered to the government, the statement said. Army and para-military forces in collaboration with the state police have been carrying out combing operations to defang communities and bring back peace in the state.
Meanwhile, a drop box for returning weapons snatched from security forces set up at the home of a BJP legislator from Imphal East has become a popular attraction with local youth, who have taken advantage of the anonymous facility to deposit 130 weapons, including sophisticated automatic rifles.
A large poster at a covered shed outside the home of L Susindro Meitei, who is currently a minister in the Manipur government, said ‘Please drop your snatched weapons here’ both in English and Meitei language. Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
