Manipur Violence: Gun-firing resumes after few weeks of uneasy calm, resulting in lost of lives

After few weeks of uneasy calm in strife-hit Manipur, fresh violence erupted in the peripheral areas of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts since last night, resulting in lost of precious lives.

On a day Manipur Assembly session was held amidst the prevailing tense situation in the State, heavy exchange of firing occured in the frontlines of Khoirentak and Khousabung areas between the Kuki-Zo tribal village volunteers and Meitei armed groups including state forces, resulting in lost of lives and several injuries. The gunfight began at around 6:00 AM on Tuesday after the Meitei armed groups attacked the Kuki-Zo villages situated in the adjoining areas where the valley and hills meet.

During the violent incident, atleast three Meitei militants and one Kuki-Zo volunteer were believed to have been killed and few others sustained bullet injuries. The injured persons were reportedly rushed to Raj Medicity, Shija Hospital and RIMS hospital in Imphal.

The Kuki-Zo volunteer who died while defending the villages was identified as Jangminlun Gangte (27) S/o Mangkholen Gangte of Songdo village. His lifeless body was brought to Kuki Khanglai Lawmpi (KKL) Complex, near District Hospital, and later kept in the mortuary of Lamka District Hospital. There was no report of injury from the Kuki-Zo community.

Since last night, tension prevailed in the peripheral areas of Churachandpur wherein the majority Meiteis with sophisticated arms began unprovoked attack by indiscriminately firing towards the Kuki-Zo areas at Torbung and Loklaphai areas, near Kangvai at around 8:00PM. As the areas situated in buffer zones, the central paramilitary forces responded with precision and the situation thus subsided after few hours in the night.

Heavy firing between the two warring communities resumed today morning when the majority Meiteis attacked the Kuki-Zo areas. The heavy exchange of firing occured the whole day and it continues untill the filing of this report.

Interestingly, amidst unrest in the State, one-day assembly session was held on Tuesday. The Assembly passed a resolution to foster unity and create a brighter future amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

Opposition Congress MLAs expressed ignorance about the resolution and criticized the session for not addressing the crisis. Ten Kuki-Zo MLAs were absent from the session due to safety and security concerns, while all 10 Naga MLAs were present. The session was adjourned twice due to protests by Congress MLAs.