Manipur Violence: Death Toll Rises to 54; Five Militants Killed

Imphal: The official death toll in the Manipur violence rose to 54. Unofficial sources claim the deaths to be much more.

Of the 54 dead, 16 bodies were kept in the morgue of the Churachandpur district hospital while 15 bodies were in Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East district. The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences at Lamphel in Imphal West district reported 23 dead. Many people with bullet injuries are also being treated at RIMS and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.

Meanwhile, five hill-based militants were killed and two India Reserve Battalion jawans were injured in two separate encounters in Churachandpur district on Friday night.

According to Defence sources, a total of 13,000 people were rescued and shifted to safe shelters.

Communal violence led to the death of several people and more than a hundred were injured.

Nearly 10,000 soldiers from the Army and the Assam Rifles have been deployed in Manipur. Violent clashes started in the state since Wednesday. Meitei community, which mainly lives in Imphal Valley, and Naga and Kuki tribals, who are inhabitants of the hill districts, clashed.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation in Manipur with Chief Minister N Biren Singh and top officials on Friday.

Trains to Manipur have been cancelled with immediate effect on Friday due to the prevailing situation in the state.