Fresh violence in Manipur: Armed men attack Kuki villages in fringe areas, atleast five houses torched

After few weeks of respite, the Meitei armed militants, allegedly in camouflage uniforms, have took up again their violent attacks on Kuki villages situated in the fringe areas of New Keithelmanbi, under Kangpokpi district, on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

According to sources, atleast five houses belonging to Kuki-Zo community were burnt to ashes during the violent incidents. The houses included a house belonging to AR personnel from Kuki community at New Keithelmanbi, and another four houses from L. Jangnomphai villages, near New Keithelmanbi, along National Highway-37.

The initial incident occurred on Wednesday night at around 10:30 pm when the Meitei armed groups including the radicals- Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, began to attack New Keithelmanbi areas by indiscriminately firing towards the Kuki villages. The attack, which took place in the buffer zones, was reportedly resisted by the central security personnel who are manning the vulnerable areas. A violent confrontation occurred there between the Gorkha Regiment and a Meitei armed group, resulting in an escalation of tensions in the region.

Instead of retreating, sources said, the Meitei militant groups took refuge in the border area during the night and renewed their attack, once again, in the wee hours of Thursday (October 5). The armed clash which persisted through the night was extended at around 6:00 am today. The situation remained volatile until before noon.

It was alleged that in the initial incident of violence on the night of Wednesday (October 4), the armed Meitei groups, disguised in security uniforms, set ablaze their own Meitei farm houses to implicate that the Kukis started the attack. The Kukis, however, denied their involvement in the arsoning of Meitei farm houses in Moidangpok, a Meitei inhabited locality.

As regards to the incidents of arson reported by various local newspaper today, the Manipur Police clarified that unknown miscreants torched some firewood belonging to Meitei family of Keithelmanbi. The same was doused by the Security Forces. Meanwhile, a massive joint combing operation was carried out in and around the area by Civil Police, CRPF/BSF and Assam Rifles/Army.

Sources also said that the fresh firings were between the Meitei armed groups and the central security forces, not between the Kuki village volunteers and the Meiteis. Fortunately, there was no report of human casualty on both sides of the armed groups.

The ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities enters five months since it began on May 3. Around 200 people have lost their lives and more than 7000 houses were burnt down. More than 60000 people were internally displaced.