Manipur violence | At least 11 killed in late night attack in Khamenlok

At least eleven villagers were massacred in a late night attack at Khamenlok in Imphal east district of Manipur

At least eleven villagers were massacred in a late night attack at Khamenlok in Imphal East district of violence-hit Manipur on June 13, police said. Several injured persons have been admitted in government and private hospitals. Hospital sources said that the death toll will increase since many wounded persons are admitted in the ICUs.

The dead bodies have been kept in the mortuary of J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat in Imphal.

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Police said that the Kuki militants hurled several bombs at Khamenlok late on Tuesday night killing and injuring several villagers. The unhurt villagers rushed out of their houses to flee to safe areas. However the waiting tribal militants opened fire on the escaping villagers. Additional forces were rushed to Khamenlok. After some minutes of exchange of fire, tribal militants retreated.

Khamenlok has been the main battleground for the Kuki tribal militants and the non-tribal Meiteis. In the past few days several persons were killed and wounded in clashes with the militant groups who are armed with many sophisticated weapons.

Reacting to the massacre of innocent villagers, the CLP leader, Okram Ibobi, said that during election time the BJP bigshots rushed to Manipur almost every second day. “Today no such leader is seen here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not spoken a word on these killings which had started from May 3. Representatives of ten political parties are planning to rush to Delhi to demand a lasting solution to the bloody confrontations”. He added that the parties are demanding a special session of the Manipur Assembly to discuss the burgeoning bloodshed. The violence Manipur is experiencing now is “quite unprecedented”.

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