Manipur On The Boil Again, Eight Killed In 72 Hours, War-Like Stores Recovered

Manipur Violence: In the worst-affected Churachandpur district, five people have been killed and several injured in a series of gun battles between two armed groups.

At least eight people have been killed amid fresh violence in strife-torn Manipur over the past 72 hours, Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Singh said on Friday. Speaking to ABP Live, DGP Singh said, "Eight people have been killed in different incidents in two districts of the state."

At least five people have been killed and several injured in a series of gun battles between two armed groups in the worst-affected Churachandpur district.

"Five people have been killed in various areas of the district in the last 72 hours. The deaths were due to gun battle between two armed groups," Churachandpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Karthik Malladi told ABP Live.

Tribal Forum Asks Security Forces To Ensure Safety Of Tribals Guarding Villages

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a conglomerate of recognised tribes in Lamka, Outer Manipur, condemned the attacks and appealed to the security forces to ensure safety of the tribals who are guarding their villages in the foothills of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts.

"For the third consecutive day today, armed radicals attacked tribal positions in areas bordering Lamka (Churachandpur) and Bishnupur districts, disregarding repeated calls by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to maintain peace. The attacks...happened simultaneously at six locations - Chingphei, Lonphai, Langchingmanbi, Khousabung, Khoirengtak, and Kangathei. Firing is still continuing," the ITLF statement on Thursday read.

The ITLF urged the government and security forces to prioritise the retrieval of looted weapons from the armed groups. 

"These unending attacks are clearly a ploy to derail political talks between tribal SoO groups and the central government. The latest round of talks was held on Thursday and will continue on Friday," the statement said.

Arms, Ammunition, War-Like Stores Recovered

On the other hand, a joint team of Assam Rifles, Imphal West commando team and Sekmai police recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and war-like stores while conducting a search operation in Champirok near Khongnangpokpi in Imphal West district. 

In a press release on Thursday, Assam Rifles said the recoveries include one M16 rifle, one 12 bore single barrel gun, two 9 mm pistols, eight hand grenades, 10 grenade launching tubes, two INSAS rifle magazines, 30 live rounds of ammunition and war-like stores. The seized weapons were handed over to the Sekmei police.

At least 175 people have been killed in the four-month long ethnic clashes in the state. Moreover, several thousand others have been rendered homeless and are currently taking shelter in relief camps in various parts of the state.  

Clashes between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities broke out on May 3 this year after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.