Manipur flares up again: What has happened so far

The latest incident has taken the toll in the state since clashes began to 114. Chief Minister N Biren Singh appealed for peace. “We understand that people across the state are reeling under untold hardship due to the present crisis. But it is about time to take a step back and give peace a chance. Let us not be driven by emotion. Let the government handle the situation,” he said.

ALSO READ |  Manipur’s ethnic faultlines: Kuki-Meitei divide & recent unrest

Meanwhile, the groups representing both the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities have distanced themselves from the Centre’s peace committee constituted to facilitate talks on the situation.

Here is what happened in Manipur this week.

1. 01

   Assam CM Himanta meets leaders of rebel Kuki groups

   North East Democratic Alliance convener and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met leaders of two rebel groups that come under the Suspension of Operations agreement — the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front — in Guwahati on Sunday.

2. 02

   Core Committee on Separate Administration refused to participate in the peace panel

   A directive issued on Monday by the Core Committee on Separate Administration, which includes MLAs representing the Kuki-Zomi communities and tribal bodies such as the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the Zomi Council and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), said no “CSOs [civil society organisation], tribe bodies and individuals shall participate in the peace committee.”

3. 03

   Gunfight between Meitei and Kuki groups in Khamenlok

   A gunfight broke out between Meitei and Kuki groups on Monday afternoon in the Khamenlok area. The security forces were rushed to the area, but they could not reach in time because women and children had blocked the road. By the time the route was cleared, nine persons from the two communities had sustained gunshot injuries.

4. 04

   Firing in Churachandpur, village in Kangpokpi burned down

   Police confirmed that one person was killed in an incident of firing in Lailoiphai area of Churachandpur district on Monday.  Local residents identified the victim as 22-year-old N Muansang, a village defence volunteer. In addition to this, a village in the Kangpokpi district was also burned down.

5. 05

   Nine persons killed in firing and arson in Aigejang

   Nine persons were killed on Tuesday night in incidents of firing and arson in Aigejang village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. The shooting from the hill side was in retaliation to the influx of local Meitei volunteers from across Imphal East towards the Kuki village  to “defend” Meitei-dominated parts.

6. 06

   Bodies recovered late Tuesday night in Aigejang after firing

   The nine bodies that were recovered were of Meitei people. The bodies were recovered late at night from the village and were taken to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.

7. 07

   State cabinet minister's official quarters in Imphal set on fire

   Kangpokpi MLA and state cabinet minister Nemcha Kipgen’s official quarters in Imphal West’s Lamphel was set on fire in Imphal at around 6:30 pm on Wednesday. Kipgen is a BJP MLA and the minister for the Textiles, Commerce & Industry Department and the Cooperation Department. She is one of the state’s 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs, and has been away from Imphal since the outbreak of the violence last month.

8. 08

   Abandoned houses set on fire in Imphal East district

   Miscreants set three houses on fire in Imphal East district’s New Checkon area, which is home to a mixture of communities. There have been several arson cases in the area. Thursday’s arson incidents occurred amid the presence of a heavy deployment of security forces.

9. 09

   RAPF used teargas to disperse people who defied curfew

   After the arson incidents, a large number of people came out onto the streets, defying the curfew. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) used teargas to disperse the crowd, resulting in a confrontation between the two sides. At least one woman was injured in the scuffle.

10. 10

    Union Minister RK Ranjan's house torched

    The residence of Union Minister R K Ranjan at Kongba in Imphal was torched by a mob Thursday night. The Union Minister was not at home at the time of the incident.