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Four people were shot dead in Manipur’s Churachandpur when security forces were carrying out evacuation of Meiteis in the area. Meanwhile, the IRS (Indian Revenue Service) Association said a tax assistant identified as Letminthang Haokip had been killed in Imphal. “No cause or ideology can justify the killing of an innocent public servant on duty,” they tweeted.
This shooting in Churachandpur comes after days of fierce clashes between the state’s majority Meitei community and the Kuki tribe, which had also originated in the area on Wednesday. While state capital Imphal has seen Kukis at the receiving end of the violence, the Meiteis have been targeted in areas dominated by hill tribes.
The shooting took place when tribals allegedly tried to intervene in the evacuation of Meiteis from the area.
Muan Hansingh (24), a researcher and resident of Churachandpur, told The Indian Express that unrest in the town began around 7 pm Friday. “Because of the deployment of security personnel, people are not moving out of their homes. Around 7 pm, we got information that Meitei people stranded in the town are going to be evacuated by security personnel. The people (opposed to this evacuation) gathered at the town’s main road, Tidim Road to barricade it. We put women at the front of the barricade because we thought that they would not be fired at. But the security opened fire and four people died,” he alleged.
An Assam Rifles official in Imphal said he had received inputs that a gathering of “80-200” people had taken place and that four people died in the firing. “Evacuation of people from different parts of the state is constantly going on,” he said, adding that the blockading of roads continues to be common in different parts of the state.
A senior official from the central security forces also confirmed four people had died, while a senior police official from the district put the number at three.
Meanwhile, the DIG (ops) of CRPF wrote in an internal communication to his force: “Regarding ensuring safety of CRPF personnel on leave, during the prevailing Law and Order situation in Manipur, Competent Authority has desired all the units offices/establishments to promptly contact their personnel hailing from Manipur, who are presently on leave. In case they feel unsafe/insecure, they be directed to report immediately at the nearest CRPF, BSF, SF location, along with their family members. Please ensure to extend all possible assistance to such personnel on priority basis.”
This comes a day after a CRPF constable identified as Chonkholen Haokip, who was on leave, was shot dead when he tried to stop men setting a village on fire.
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