Manipur Violence: 17 Injured In Clash In Bishnupur As Security Forces Resort To Tear Gas To Control Situation

Before the clashes, a planned mass burial for Kuki-Zomi individuals, who lost their lives in Manipur's ethnic conflict, was halted, following a high court order.

A total of 17 people in Manipur sustained injuries in clashes as Army and Rapid Action Force personnel lobbed tear gas shells in the Kangvai and Phougakchao regions of Bishnupur district on Thursday. Before the clashes, a planned mass burial for Kuki-Zomi individuals, who lost their lives in Manipur's ethnic conflict, was halted, reported news agency PTI.

The Manipur High Court on Thursday directed that the status quo be maintained at the proposed burial site in Haolai Khopi village in the Churachandpur district, where the Kuki-Zo community had planned a burial service for 35 people who were killed in the ethnic strife. The HC order was passed by Acting Chief Justice MV Muralidharan after a hearing at 6 am.

Tribal organisation Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) confirmed the postponement of the burial of 35 individuals at the Haolai Khopi village site in Churachandpur district, situated on the border with Bishnupur. The organisation said that the mass burial will consider the Centre's request for postponement of the mass burial for five days if its conditions were met.

Tensions escalated throughout the morning in Bishnupur district, with numerous locals taking to the streets to obstruct the movement of security forces. Led by women, the locals attempted to bypass the barricades set up by the Army and RAF personnel, urging for passage to Tuibuong, the designated burial location.

Meanwhile, the district magistrates of both Imphal East and Imphal West withdrew the previously announced relaxations on curfew, imposing daytime restrictions as a precautionary step, in addition to the existing night curfew across the Imphal valley. Acting on apprehensions of disruption, the district magistrates of both areas separately issued orders to reinstate the daytime curfew.

More than 160 people have lost their lives and several hundred have been injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.