Fresh violence in Manipur, father, son among 3 killed

Guwahati: In what has created fresh tension in trouble-torn Manipur, at least three people including a father and son were killed by unidentified men in Bishnupur district early on Saturday morning.

The incident took place at about 2 am in Ukha Tampak locality of Bishnupur district. Informing that the three people were gunned down while they were sleeping and later slashed with swords at Kwakta in the district, police on Saturday said that the assailants came from Churachandpur.  The deceased are reportedly from the Meitei community in the Kwakta area.

Pointing out that several houses of the Kuki community were set on fire in retaliatory mob violence, police said, "The victims used to stay in a relief camp but had returned to their residences at Kwakta on Friday only after the situation improved.” A father and his son were among the three killed.

Police said that soon after the incident, an irate mob gathered at Kwakta and wanted to head towards Churachandpur but was stopped by security forces. Subsequently, heavy firing took place in the Kwakta area of the Bishnupur district between the Kuki community and security forces. Manipur Police and Commandos were retaliating. Police said that security forces also launched an operation to chase the armed assailants.

“Three persons, including one policeman, were injured following heavy exchange of fire between state forces and an armed mob near Kwakta on Saturday morning. The policeman sustained splinter injuries on his face. All the three have been brought to Raj Medicity in Imphal for treatment. They are out of danger,” police said.

Meanwhile, the state administration has decided to shorten curfew relaxation hours in the twin Imphal districts because of the violence.

“Instead of curfew relaxation from 5 am to 6 pm in the twin Imphal districts, it has now been shortened to 5 am to 10.30 am,” an official said.

Manipur police said that a joint security force conducted an operation in the Koutruk hill range and destroyed as many as seven illegal bunkers.

Meanwhile, the 24-hour general strike called by the coordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies in Manipur on Saturday paralysed normal life in Imphal Valley, with markets and business establishments remaining shut in almost all localities.

Ethnic violence broke out in the north-eastern state nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.