No respite in Manipur violence: Gun-battle, arsoning escalates; 16 Kuki-Zo villages torched

A month has past, but the ethnic violence between the two communities continued to escalate during the last 72 hours, as peace and normalcy remained a far cry in the Northeastern State.

The alleged state sponsored carnage, atrocities and arsoning of villages perpetrated by the majority Meitei radical groups on the minority Tribals since May 3, 2023 continued unabated even when the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah's plan for peace is enforced in the State. Since Saturday night till today, gun battles occurred at different places in bordering areas of the two communities.

From early morning of Sunday, a combined forces of Police Commandos along with majority Meitei militants, consisted of about thousands in number, continued their carnage on Kuki-Zo Villages in and around Sugnu Area, thereby arsoning many villages situated in the periphery of Sugnu town along the foothills, mostly under Chandel district. The Meitei militants struck with bombs towards the village defense volunteers, causing human casualties and properties destroyed. The poor villagers and volunteers who were guarding the villages became helpless as the combine forces of State police commandos including Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and other valley-based armed militants attacked them using bombs, snipers and other sophisticated weapons.

Atleast 15 villages belonging to Kuki-Zo community including Sahumphai, Gangpijang, Sokom, Nazareth, Lonpi Khonou, Munpi, New Keiphom, K Sabi, Utangpokpi, Moltinchan, JS Jangnoi, Kotsophai, Phainom, Khopijang, Hebron and Khumjang were burnt down on June 4, 2023. Kuki-Zo villages such as Uchatampak, Boljang and Singtom situated in the adjoining areas of Sugnu town were completely torched and burnt to ashes today. The violence in Manipur remains unabated as the house of an MLA was set on fire in the early hours of June 4. In a counter-offensive action on June 4 at around 2:30 AM, several houses belonging to majority Meitei community were set on fire by the tribal volunteers in Serou area of Kakching district, including the home of MLA K. Ranjit Singh, the Congress MLA from Sugnu constituency.

Sources claimed that the MLA’s home was partially burned. After the heavy gunfight in Serou area subsided, a large number of majority Meitei armed militias including Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and Meitei militants backed by State security forces began their rampage against the tribal villages in Sugnu area on Sunday. The gunfight continued the whole day after which, the poor villagers and volunteers withdrew from the frontline as their hand-made weapons could not match the use of bombs, snipers and other sophisticated weapons by the Meitei groups. Arsoning of houses began thereafter and continued till 9:00 pm in the night when all the villages were completely burnt to ashes.

Atleast 700 houses belonging to both communities were said to be burnt down during the last 36 hours. Notably, earlier on June 3 evening, four members of Manipur Legislative Assembly, including three from the ruling BJP—Usham Deben, M Rameshwor Singh, Yumnam Radheshyam—were allegedly detained at the Sugnu Bazar Mahila Congress building by irate locals. K. Ranjit was the lone Congress MLA among the four, who represents Sugnu assembly constituency.

The MLAs were led by MAHUD Minister, Y Kemchand who was apparently given permission to leave so that he could meet Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to request the relocation of the Assam Rifles camp from Sugnu. The MLAs camped there even while the gun battle occurred in their presence. Three individuals sustained injuries during the gun firing and were rushed towards Lamka (Churachandpur) District Hospital.