Fresh firings in multiple areas; atleast 10 from Meitei community sustained injuries

As the ongoing Manipur mayhem enters the seventh month, multiple incidents of firing occurred on Tuesday along the buffer zones in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts.

After sufficient uneasy rests, the majority Meiteis' radicalised armed groups have reportedly resumed their attacks to the Kuki-Zo villages in the peripheral areas where the Meiteis and Kukis inhabited districts meet, surrounding the valley of Imphal. The firing incidents were reported from Maphou Kuki village, Kangchup, Tingkai and Haraothel areas of Kangpokpi district.

Maphou Kuki was once again reportedly attacked today, after more than half of the village was burnt previously, by the Meitei militants. The gunfire started at about 9:30 in the morning and lasted for about three hours when the central security personnel could finally thwart the attack and thus prevented the Meitei militants from looting and burning the remaining houses and properties of the village.

In another incident, a Bolero carrying 5 people from Lamka’s Bolkot village on their way to L. Phaijang, Kangpokpi for a family function allegedly lost their way and travelled towards a Meitei locality, where they were abducted and later reportedly killed by a Meitei mob. It was said that one of the passenger Manglun Haokip (65) H/O Nengkim Haokip of Bolkot village, left to die, was rescued by the Assam Rifles and admitted to Kangpokpi hospital in critical condition. It is further reported that he was air-lifted to a neighbouring state for further medical treatment. The other passengers were identified as Nengkim Haokip (60) W/O Manglun Haokip (Bolkot Village), Neilam Haokip W/O Ginkhai Haokip (Laimanai Kuki Village), Jamkhothang Lhanghal H/O Tingneilam Lhanghal (Eldest daughter of Manglun Haokip – Mongjang village) and Thangjalam Haokip (Bolkot village).

There has been no official report, till the time of filing this report, on whether these individuals are alive or dead. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

Upon hearing the news, the tribal volunteers reportedly opened blank fires which was responded in kind by the Meitei groups which further escalated the tension. Reports suggested that atleast 10 people from the Meitei community sustained injuries in the ensuing gunfight and hospitalised at RIMS and Raj Medicity in Imphal.

Incidents of firings were also reported from Haraothel in Kangpopkpi district at around the same time when firing occurred at Kangchup and again at around 5 to 6 pm in the evening. The Meitei militants reportedly fired towards the Kuki villages at intervals. However there has been no report of casualty among the villagers.

Another incident of gunfight between the radicalised Arambai Tenggol militant and the Kuki volunteers reportedly occurred in Tingkai area of Aigejang village today afternoon. However, there has been no report of casualty.

Tribal bodies have been alleging selective deliverance of justice in the wake of the ethnic violence in Manipur. Situation in the strife-torn state is still tense and a semblance of peace remains elusive. More than 170 people have lost their lives and thousands got injured. More 200 villages, 360 Churches and synagogues have been burnt down and 60000 internally displaced.