2 deaths heighten tensions in Manipur

According to Army inputs, the incident started around 5:30 am with an attack on the Kuki village Haraothel, which was followed by retaliatory firing from the Kuki side.

Following this, two columns of Assam Rifles deployed at National Sports University and K Munlai were mobilised and sent to the area.

“While en route to the site, own columns drew effective fire from armed rioters. Own troops responded in a calibrated manner to prevent any collateral damage. Swift action by troops resulted in cessation of firing. Additional columns were moved to the area,” said an Army spokesperson.

After heavy firing subsided around 9 am, the two bodies were recovered from Haraothel and the injured were moved to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.

The incident set off fresh tensions in the heart of Imphal city on Thursday evening with hundreds taking to the street to decry the deaths.

Tensions escalated after one of the bodies was taken to Khwairamband ‘women’s market’ in the heart of the city in the evening. Following this, a large number of people gathered there from different parts of Imphal.

Tyres set on fire by miscreants amid fresh violence in Imphal. (PTI)

The women who had gathered chanted slogans against the Biren Singh government for its inability to prevent violence.

As the number of people grew, a large number of police and RAF personnel were deployed to manage the situation. Police efforts towards retrieving the body and asking for it be handed over led to a confrontation between the protesters and security forces.

This eventually led to the forces using tear gas to disperse the mob, while the protesters retaliated with stones and catapults. A similar scene was witnessed at Keishampat, where protesters clashed with the security forces. Tear gas shelling was still ongoing at 9:30 pm but security forces were able to retrieve the body from the market at night.

The Army also reported the exchange of fire along the Kangpokpi border again around 5:15 pm, in a location roughly 2.5 km from Harouthel.

The eruption of violence at this scale has taken place in Manipur after around 15 days. The last major incident of violence with multiple casualties had taken place on June 14 when nine people were killed in Aigejang village in Kangpokpi district.