Manipur Situation Critical, 8 Dead 18 Injured in 72 Hours

Imphal: Ethnic violence continues unabated in Manipur. At least eight people were killed and 18 others were injured in Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts since August 29 in the exchange of fire between Kukis and Meiteis.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh termed the situation as “critical” and asked the general public to maintain calm.

According to official sources, firing continued at intervals in the foothills of Khoirentak in Bishnupur district and adjoining Chingphei and Khousabung areas in Churachandpur district.

Recent violence sparked off on August 29 when a 30 year old village volunteer was killed during heavy firing in Khoirentak area.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) called for an emergency shutdown in Churachandpur with immediate effect.  The ITLF once again urges the government and security forces to prioritise the retrieval of looted weapons from the Meitei community.

Search operations were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Kangpokpi, Thoubal, Churachandpur and Imphal-West districts and recovered 5 arms, 31 ammunition, 19 explosives, 3 packs of IED material, Manipur police wrote on X.

Ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a “Tribal Solidarity March” was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.