1 month into Manipur violence, death toll rises to 98; at least 310 injured, over 4k cases of arson

According to the statement, as many as 3,734 FIRs have been registered, the maximum being in Imphal West district at 1,257, followed by Kangpokpi (932) and Bishnupur (844).

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Nearly 60 persons were killed in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities last Wednesday. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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The clashes broke out during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March,’ called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur, against the demand for inclusion of the state’s Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, following a Manipur HC directive. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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Clashes between the two groups were first reported in an area bordering Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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As the situation worsened the next day, the state’s Home Department issued “shoot-at-sight” orders “in extreme cases”. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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Following these clashes, Chief Minister N Biren Singh held an all-party meeting, and a video conference with security personnel calling for calm and an end to violence. (PTI Photo)

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In this picture, a Gurukul Art student in Mumbai is seen painting an appeal to stop the violence. (PTI Photo)

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The governments of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand have been rushing to get their residents out of Manipur as soon as possible as violence continues to engulf the state. (PTI Photo)

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Over 100 columns of Army and Assam Rifles have been working since 96 hours in order to significantly enhance the surveillance capability in Manipur. (PTI Photo)

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The clashes led the people of Manipur raise slogans marking a protest against the violence at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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The SC has taken note of the assurance given by the Centre and Manipur government that steps were taken to control the situation in Manipur under control. Here, Army and Assam Rifles personnel can be seen assisting people of violence-hit areas, at a relief camp. (PTI Photo)

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The curfew, imposed after the violence broke out, was relaxed from 5 am to 8 am in Imphal West district to allow people buy essential items. (PTI Photo)

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In this picture, health workers can be seen giving free medicines to people from violence-hit areas of Manipur at a relief camp setup by the Assam Government, in Cachar district of Assam. (PTI Photo)

While the curfew has been relaxed in most districts, shootouts between armed miscreants and civilians were reported in two places on Friday. The incident came a day after Union Minister Amit Shah left Imphal after a visit to take stock of the prevailing situation in Manipur. Shah, who was on a three-day visit, met various stakeholders.

Heavy exchange of fire occurred in Imphal West district’s Phayeng village on Friday after armed miscreants set houses on fire. Angom Rabikanta, a resident of Phayeng, said three armed miscreants equipped with sophisticated weapons set his farmhouse on fire before shooting at the villagers around 9.30 am. Phayeng village borders the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district.

“Three armed Kukis with sophisticated weapons came down from the hillsides and set fire to my farmhouse. They even started shooting at me when I tried to alert the villagers,” said Rabikanta. Following this, villagers armed with licensed weapons exchanged gunfire with the miscreants who retreated to a nearby hill, he added.

As the news spread, hundreds of civilians from different parts of adjoining areas in the valley, wielding arms including automatic rifles, rushed to the village. Intense firing broke out between them and those in the hills till late in the evening. Latest reports suggest around 16 people were injured and were admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS).

Phayeng is one of the several villages in the peripheral areas of Imphal which is being attacked by armed miscreants, suspected to be Kuki militants, since the violence broke out on May 3. The last incident occurred on May 28 wherein one villager was killed. “We have been living in fear since the violence broke out. We are being attacked constantly. Our government is doing nothing,” said Ranjita, who lives in the village.

Official sources said 84 companies of central armed paramilitary forces have been deployed in the region. A search operation to recover the arms stolen from armouries across the state also commenced on Friday, the sources said.