Fresh violence in Manipur, 3 killed

Guwahati: In fresh violence, three people were shot dead by armed miscreants in Kangpokpi district of trouble-torn Manipur on Tuesday. Saying that the incident took place at about 7.30 am between the villages of Ireng and Karam Vaiphei in Kanggui area of the district, security sources said: “Three Kuki persons while travelling in a vehicle were waylaid by armed miscreants and shot dead.”

Confirming the incident, the additional superintendent of police, Kangpokpi, Tholu Rocky, told reporters that the security forces deployed in the area have launched combing operations to nab the suspects. He clarified: “There was no gunbattle, as reported in a section of the media. We have started investigations to nab those responsible. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.”

The incident took place in an area bordering Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts and the suspects are believed to have fled from the area in a vehicle.

Saying that additional forces have been rushed to the area, the security sources said: “The police and columns of the Assam Rifles have reached the spot. The security forces are jointly conducting cordon and search operations.”

Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a Kuki umbrella group, identified the deceased as Satneo Tuboi, Ngamminlun Lhouvum (both from K Ponlen) and Ngamminlun Kipgen of Lhangkichoi.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), in a statement, said the three dead were Kuki-Zo residents, and said the armed miscreants were dressed in military fatigues.

It is significant that the security agencies had recently alerted the forces in Manipur that miscreants may use the uniform of the police and security forces to masquerade as security personnel and fuel violence.

The conflict in Manipur has been continuing for over four months, with frequent reports of violent flare-ups and deaths. On Friday (September 8), at least two people were killed and many others injured -- including one Assam Rifles and three Manipur police personnel -- after heavy firing had erupted in Pallel.

The security sources said, meanwhile, that the state government has been working on finding a political solution to the ethnic clashes. Saying that the state government has told the Centre that it is ready to grant greater autonomy to the existing hill councils in Manipur, the security sources said: “Separate administration, in whatever form the Kukis are demanding, is not acceptable to the state government or to the rest of the population in the state.”