Imphal: Fresh violence erupted in Manipur on Tuesday following the suspicious disappearance of two boys from Akham Awang Leikai in Imphal West District on Sunday. Firings were reported in various districts of the adjoining hill valley districts, leaving at least 10 people injured and one killed at Kangchup area in Imphal West District.
Intense firings and cross firings were reported at Phayeng, Kangchup area in Imphal West District, Maphou Dam in Imphal East District and Irengbam in Bishnupur District.
Must read | Two Youths Go Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances In Violence-hit Manipur
At least 10 people including a woman and two police personnel were injured in the cross firings at Kangchup Chingkhong area. Seven injured persons were rushed to RIMS hospital and 2 at Raj Medicity in Imphal. Among them, a Meira Paibi woman from Kangchup Chingkhong, Leichombam Ibemcha (39) and one L Thangal Meitei (24) are said to be a critical condition.
As per a reliable source, one male belonging to the Kuki-Zo tribe was killed, and another injured in the cross firing at Kangchup area. The dead body and the injured were brought to Kangpokpi District Hospital.
Must read | Indigenous Tribal Leaders Accuse Central Government of Inaction in Manipur Ethnic Conflict
Various police vehicles were also damaged by bullets in the firing incident. CRPF Personnel and State force personnel have been stationed at Kangchup foothills and its surrounding areas.
Armed miscreants from Tingkai Khunou (Kuki village), located behind Irengbam, a Meitei village in Oinam Constituency of Bishnupur District reportedly fired several rounds of bullets towards the Meitei village.
According to the villagers, armed miscreants fired about 60 rounds of bullets towards them and the attack was retaliated by GR personnel deployed in the village. There is no report of any injuries in the village. Firings between armed groups were also reported at Maphao dam area in Imphal East on Tuesday morning.
Also read | SDSA condemns placing of 2 mobile phones at Senapati
State and Central security forces are keeping a strict vigil in these areas.
It is suspected that there may be some casualties in the firing incident, but any casualty is yet to be ascertained.
While, farmers at Thamnapokpi Village in Lamlai Constituency in Imphal East District also said they were threatened by armed Kuki group from a distance of around 150 to 200 meters from their paddy fields by shouting at them to stop working in paddy fields and run for their lives.
Meanwhile, press note from Committee on Tribal Unity has served a 24-hour ultimatum in what the Kuki-Zo organisation is saying to the concerned authorities to “find the 5 (five) missing members of wedding party who had sojourn from Kangchup Chingkhong were waylaid by the Meitei Arambai Tenggol to be brought back to their families, failing which the it will not be responsible for any untoward incidents arising out of it.”
Further, the press briefing says, “that the two Arambai Tenggol [missing youths] who had crossed the Buffer Zone on the 5th at Kanglatongbi were supposedly kidnapped by the Village Volunteer Force was concocted narration to tarnished the image of the Kuki-Zo community.”
Must read | CoTU serves 24-hour ultimatum over 5 missing members
The injured in Tuesday’s fresh escalation are listed below:
Admitted at RIMS
1) Mutum Basanta (35), S/O M. Kesho of Mayang Langjing Sorok Mapal ( VDF Lamshang PS),
Bullet injury on right knee.
2) Naorem Kishan (30), S/O N. Tiken of Mayang Imphal ( Escort DIG R-I),
Pallet injury on right portion of the back side head and left side shoulder.
3) Mutum Amarjit (42) Kairang,
Bullet injury on right thigh.
4) L. Thangal Meitei (24), S/O (L) L. Jugesor Meitei of Leimakhong,
Bullet injury on chest (ICU).
5) Laishram Premchand (43), S/O (L) L. Bubhon of Nambol Chingmang presently residing at Khurai Kongpal Laishram Leikai,
Bullet injury on right leg.
6) Laichombam Ibemcha (39), Kangchup Chingkhong,
Bullet injury on the back side trunk of the body (ICU).
7) Sorokhaibam Saranjit@Boicha (34), S/O S. Dhananjoy of Moirangkhom Loklaobung,
Bullet injury on right ankle.
Also read | Manipur: Hunting of animals, birds banned in Shirui village
Admitted at Raj Medicity
1) Khundrakpam Somorjit Singh (43), C/O Roji of Khurai Khongpal Chingangbam Leikai,
Two bullet injury on left knee and below the knee.
2) Khuraijam Nanao Singh (38), S/O Kh. Ranjit Singh of Khurai Kongpal Chingangbam Leikai,
Bullet injury on the right leg below the knee.
Ukhrul Times has yet to establish the number of injury or casualty from the Kuki-Zo tribals so far.
Also read | TKS to Organise Rally for Expediting Indo-Naga Peace Process
About The Author
