NEW DELHI, Apr 13
In a violent flare-up following a period of relative peace of over 40 days in Manipur, two people were killed on Saturday morning in an area at the border of Meitei-majority Imphal East district and Kuki-Zomi majority Kangpokpi district.
Kuki-Zomi organizations have stated that the two who have been killed are 23-year-old Kamminlal Lupheng and 22-year-old Kamlengsat Lunkim, both residents of Kangpokpi. A senior police officer confirmed that firing took place in the Imphal East–Kangpokpi area and that the two are believed to have been killed, but that police have not found the bodies. Violent videos purportedly of Saturday’s incident – police also confirmed that the videos are prima facie from today – which were widely circulated show brutal violence: of the bodies being stamped on and dragged.
According to sources, heavy cross firing had taken place between two armed groups around 8 am, and the incident took place in an area under the jurisdiction of Maphoudam police station in Imphal East district – which is a region where the districts of Imphal East, Kangpokpi, and Naga majority Ukhrul meet.
Following the killings coming to light, the Committee of Tribal Unity, a Kuki-Zomi group based in Kangpokpi district, called for a 24-hour shutdown in the district on Sunday. The violent incident of Saturday followed at least two people from the Meitei community being injured during a gunfight which broke out in the adjoining areas of Tengnoupal and Kakching districts on Friday. The renewed flare-ups over the past two days come after the longest period of relative peace the state has witnessed in the 11 months since violence broke out in the state on May 3 last year.
The last major flare-up which had taken place was when members of radical armed Meitei group Arambai Tenggol had abducted two police personnel – including an Additional Superinten-dent of Police – and attacked the ASP’s residence after police arrested some of its members in connection with the theft of vehicles. Before that, two people from the Kuki-Zomi were killed as security forces deployed the use of force against a crowd numbering hundreds storming the offices of the SP and the DC over the suspension of a constable from the community.
This lull of around 45 days has been shattered less than a week before polling takes place for the Inner and Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seats in most of the conflict-riddled parts of the state. The campaigning has been muted so far but was looking to pick up in the days to come, especially with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to arrive at the state to campaign on April 15.
