Firing, arson in Manipur continue; 16 hurt

Manipur continues to burn a month after clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities that has led to the killing of almost 100 people

Manipur continues to burn a month after clashes between two communities — the Meitei and the Kuki — led to the killing of almost 100 people and displacement of nearly 35,000.

The deployment of a large contingent of Central armed forces and Home Minister Amit Shah’s call for peace from the State’s capital Imphal reduced the intensity of the violence in the past few days, but incidents of attacks and arson have not stopped.

Also read | Explained: What is behind Manipur’s widespread unrest? 

On Friday night, 16 people were injured when suspected extremists attacked two villages — Phayeng and Kangchup Chingkhong — in the Imphal West district. The condition of two of them is said to be critical.

“Unfortunate simultaneous coordinated attack by heavily-armed Kuki terrorists including suspected PDF of Myanmar, with sophisticated weapons, motors & lethod bombs, continues, injuring 16 in Imphal, Manipur. These must stop. Its economically affecting all people of the State,” Lieutenant General (Retd.) L. Nishikanta Singh tweeted on Saturday.

Officials said a fierce gunfight followed when police personnel stationed at the two villages retaliated. The exchange of fire ceased after four hours when the extremists were pushed to the nearby hills.

In another incident, the bodies of seven civilians, killed during an attack by militants in the Sugnu-Serou area of Kakching district on May 28, were recovered on Friday. The deaths of four others had been reported earlier.