In fresh resurgence of violence in Manipur, 3 men including a father-son duo were killed in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.
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In shocking and tragic news reports coming in from Manipur, fresh violence in the district of Bishnupur has claimed at least three more lives. Amongst the dead, are a father-son duo who were gunned down by attackers in the middle of the night. The life of one of their neighbors who was sleeping in an adjoining house was claimed by the attackers too. All of the three deceased men were unarmed villagers guarding their houses.
As per eye-witness reports, the incident took place early this morning, in Bishnupur district of Manipur. The local police sources claim that suspected militants raided the Ukha Tampak village, located near Kwakta, in Bishnupur district. According to the claims, these militants entered a buffer zone, at around 2 A.M. and began to fire their weapons indiscriminately.
The police said on Saturday morning that three victims were murdered while they were fast asleep and later slashed their bodies with swords.
After getting the news about the murders, the security forces were rushed to keep the pace of the are intact. This in turn, lead to a crossfire amongst the two parties, in the early hours of Saturday morning. A mob had also gathered there and then, who wanted to walk to the Churachandpur district but were stopped by the guarding forces.
The Militants Crossed the Well-guarded Buffer Zone
This incident has raised a few eyebrows for the police, because the militants have crossed the buffer zone separating the hills and the valley. This buffer zone is currently guarded and patrolled by central security forces.
Earlier on Friday, the Manipur police had confirmed that the joint forces had combed through the periphery of the violence torn area and conducted thorough operations to destroy illegal bunkers, after new violence resurfaced on Thursday. Â
Reports of fresh Violence in Manipur, since Thursday
In fresh resurgence of violence, a 35 years old woman named Aribam Wahida Bibi was injured. This happened late on Thursday. Bibi was caught in a crossfire that took place between unidentified gunmen and government forces. The incident took place in Terakhongsangbi, Bishnupur.
The officials also informed that earlier on Thursday, at Naranseina, Bishnupur, a mob stole arms and ammunitions from the headquarters of the Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB). Added to that, a police officer was killed in a ransacking incident in Imphal West. Similar to the Naranseina incident two security posts were looted by mobs for weapons.
Another police officer was shot dead in the head by a sniper in Senjam Chirang, Imphal West. A village volunteer was also injured in a gun battle between militants and security personnels in the area.
The Manipur police had informed that there was heavy exchange of fire between the security forces, RAF and the Army, on one side and gunned militants on the other in Phougakchao which is located in vicinity of Kwakta where the murders took place.
Almost 25 people have been injured in the clashes as the RAF and Army fired tear gas shells after a Kuki-Zomi organization and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum violated the gathering restrictions. They had planned a procession the burial of the 35 people, who died due to the ethnic violence in the state of Manipur at Haolai Khopi village in Churachandpur district.
Manipur is still burning.
Manipur is a small state located in North East India. The abode of luscious green forests and beautiful culture is burning for the last few months. The ethnic strife between Kukis and Meiteis had broken out when the former had declared its opposition to the Meiteis demand of the scheduled tribe (ST) status.
The country took notice of the on-going strife in Manipur after a video clip of two Kuki women being paraded naked on the street by the Meiteis went viral on social media. Despite of dispatching new security troupes and trying to control the border infiltration issues from Myanmar, the Central and state governments have not been able to curb the menace of ethic rivalry.
