Manipur: 4 Police Commandos, 1 BSF Jawan Injured As Violence Continues In New Year
While the rest of India celebrated the beginning of a new year, the situation hadn't changed much for Manipur.?
On January 2, four police commandos and one Border Security Force (BSF) jawan were injured in an ambush attack by militants in Moreh town. Police sources have added that seven security personnel were injured in a gunfight.
This incident follows resurfacing of violence?in the northeastern state on the?first day of the new year.?Three persons were allegedly shot dead and five others injured in a gunfight that took place in Thoubal district on Monday evening. As of recent information, the death toll reached four as one more person succumbed to injuries.
Following this, curfew was reimposed in the five valley districts of the state.?
The last major incident in the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur took place on December 4 in Tengnoupal district when 13 people were killed in a gunfight that took place between village volunteers of the Kuki and Meitei communities.?
Last Saturday, an exchange of fire had taken place between the two communities, in which one person lost his life.?
What happened on January 1, 2024 in Manipur
Unidentified gunmen dressed in camouflage arrived in the Lilong Chingjao area of Thoubal district and opened fire, targeting locals. In retaliation, the locals then set three four-wheelers on fire.Three people were killed, while five others were injured and were then admitted to a hospital, officials said.?
Reportedly, the gunmen had come to the area to "extort money" from a person, which led to an altercation.
Following this bout of violence, curfew was reimposed in Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, officials said.?
"The Curfew Relaxation order is hereby cancelled with immediate effect, and curfew Is Imposed in the whole revenue jurisdiction of Thoubal District Immediately prohibiting the movement of persons outside their respective residences in the District," said the order issued by A Subhash, District Magistrate of the district.?
Those involved in essential services such as Health, PHED, MSPDCL/MSPCL, Municipalities, Print and Electronic Media and functioning of the Courts were exempted from the curfew restrictions.?
Manipur New Year's Day violence: Aftermath?
Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the police are working to arrest those behind the attack, and they will be arrested soon and punished as per the law.?
He appealed to the people, particularly the residents of Lilong, to maintain peace.?
Additional security forces were deployed in the area, and vehicular patrolling was increased to prevent any more incidents.
Tension in Manipur since May of last year
The Manipur violence began on May 3 and boiled down to differences between Manipur's ethnic groups, Meitei and the Kuki-Zo.?
Meiteis constitute about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while the tribals - Nagas and Kukis - constitute 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.?
The violence began after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised in the hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.?
The ethnic clashes claimed over 180 lives, and some 10,000 army and para-military personnel had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state.??
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