Manipur Calm Amidst 2 Incidents Of Sporadic Violence In Senapati And Churachandpur

Manipur News: While no major incidents of violence have been reported, two attacks on security forces by armed miscreants took place in the hill state’s Senapati and Churachandpur districts.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) patrolling the streets of Imphal

Source : Pallav Bora

Guwahati: Sporadic violence continues to mar the northeastern state of Manipur as a couple of incidents of violence were reported from the hill state’s Senapati and Churachandpur districts on Saturday. Although no major incidents of violence have been reported over the past 24 hours from across the state, two cases of attacks on security forces by armed miscreants came to the fore on Saturday.

In the first incident, a group of unidentified armed miscreants fired upon a domination patrol team of the Assam Rifles at around 11.25 am in a forest area near the Sipijang village in the Senapati district of the state. The troopers of Assam Rifles were quick to retaliate against the unidentified miscreants who immediately fled the scene leaving behind their arms and ammunition.

Young armed villagers guarding their village against a possible attack. (Photo Credit: Pallav Bora)

The security forces soon cordoned off the area and launched a massive manhunt to nab the culprits. Two rifles along with ammunition were recovered by the security forces from the spot.  

In yet another but similar incident, another group of armed unidentified miscreants opened fire at a joint Indian Army and Assam Rifles domination patrol team at around 12.45 pm in a dense forest area in the state’s Churachandpur district, the district from where the violence in the state erupted.  

The joint team of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles immediately retaliated and fired back at the armed miscreants. In the incident, two personnel of the Assam Rifles sustained bullet injuries and were immediately evacuated from the spot.

The exchange of fire between both the parties ensued for some time, but the armed miscreants after firing a few rounds made good their escape.

Though a manhunt was immediately launched by the security forces, none of the miscreants could be nabbed due to the dense forest cover.

 

Young armed villagers guarding their village against a possible attack. (Photo Credit: Pallav Bora)

Meanwhile, the overall situation in the state has improved to a large extent. The improvement in the situation was witnessed after the curfew was relaxed for a few hours during the daytime.

According to the last official figures made available to the media, the violent clashes have so far claimed at least 71 lives, leaving another 230 people injured.  

Around 1,700 houses were either fully or partially damaged after being set ablaze during the violence that has left a trail of destruction in a state that has a rich cultural past dating back centuries.

The writer is a senior independent journalist covering the Northeast.