Photo: Collected
Violence has spread afresh in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur. Incidents of arson, vandalism of houses and gunfights have taken place at various locations in the state’s Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Ukhrul districts over the past 24 hours, in which at least 9 people have been killed. It is alleged that at least 14 houses belonging to people of the Naga and Kuki communities were set on fire. Security has been tightened to keep the situation under control.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh recently held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. There he highlighted the government’s efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the state, and the central government too gave assurances of the necessary support in this regard. But even after the meeting, the violence in various areas of the state has not stopped.
The situation deteriorated over an alleged exchange of fire between security forces and an armed group at Chassad village in Kamjong district on Friday night. Domkhonai Touthang, a 42-year-old woman of the Kuki community, was killed in that incident. Tension has spread in the area since then.
The fresh violence began on Saturday morning when an attempt was made to set fire to Chassad police station. Firing started again at around 5am and continued until 7am. To prevent the situation from deteriorating, the Kamjong district magistrate has imposed restrictions across a 400-metre area around the police station.
A separate incident of violence involving an armed group has also taken place in Kangpokpi district. Several people were killed in an attack on Makui Ashang village there. It has been learnt that three Naga village guards are among the dead.
In Ukhrul district, meanwhile, a civilian has been shot dead. He was going to his own farmland along the Imphal-Ukhrul road. Reports of firing and arson have also come in from other villages in the district.
This succession of violence has spread fresh tension in various areas of Manipur. Alongside tit-for-tat attacks, fears of a further deterioration of the situation are also growing. The central and state governments have spoken of taking initiatives to restore peace in the state, but concern is mounting as the violence on the ground has not stopped.
