3 Killed In Fresh Violence In Manipur, BJP MLA Blames Central Forces
Suspected militants raided Ukha Tampak village near Kwakta in Bishnupur around 2 am. (file)
Guwahati:
Three unarmed villagers, including a father-son duo, were killed in fresh violence in Manipur’s Bishnupur district early this morning, according to witness accounts from locals. Suspected militants raided Ukha Tampak village near Kwakta in Bishnupur around 2 am and started firing indiscriminately, police sources said.
Two men, father and son, and another person at the adjoining house, were murdered by the attackers. They were unarmed villagers guarding their houses.
The three were gunned down while they were sleeping and later slashed with swords, police said on Saturday morning, adding that the attackers came from Churachandpur.
The incident has caused great concern as the attackers were able to enter the valley secured by central security forces, police sources added.
Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh has hit out at central security forces, claiming there were huge security lapses in the militant attack in Bishnupur district that killed three people earlier in the day, and demanded action against the paramilitary force personnel for their “negligence in duty”.
Rajkumar Imo Singh, who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, said despite the presence of a massive number of paramilitary personnel, the militants from other districts came to the village and brutally killed the three people.
“The so-called paramilitary forces on duty in the village need to be suspended. We have been writing letters and memorandum regularly to the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) that certain security forces are creating uneasiness between the people and the state,” he said, adding that “a few units” of the security forces are creating problems.
If the proper action is not taken immediately, peace and normalcy would not be restored in the state, the BJP MLA said.
“Certain proactive measures need to be taken immediately, and the Chief Security Advisor must look into these aspects. There are people behind the militants to create trouble. Who is supplying arms and ammunition to them (militants). Central government must answer these questions. There is violence going on for more than three months. Central government must take certain stringent measures to stop violence, otherwise the situation would go out of control. Manipur needs peace and normalcy,” he added.
The Manipur Police on Friday said joint forces conducted search operations in vulnerable and fringe areas of the strife-torn state and destroyed seven illegal bunkers after fresh violence broke out across various districts.
A 35-year-old woman was injured late on Thursday in an exchange of fire between unidentified gunmen and state forces at Terakhongsangbi in Bishnupur.
The woman, identified as Aribam Wahida Bibi, suffered a bullet injury on her hand, and she has been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Imphal, he said.
Earlier the same day, a mob looted the armoury at the headquarters of the 2nd India Reserve Battalion (IRB) located at Naranseina in Bishnupur district, officials said.
A police officer was killed in Imphal West, while arms and ammunition, including automatic guns, were looted in Bishnupur after mobs ransacked at least two security posts in the district on Thursday.
In Senjam Chirang in Imphal West, a Manipur police personnel was killed after being shot in the head by a sniper. A village volunteer was also injured in the gun battle after suspected militants opened fire in Koutruk and Senjam Chirang from the nearby hill ranges.
Over 25 people were injured in clashes as Army and RAF personnel fired tear gas shells in Kangvai and Phougakchao areas in Bishnupur later in the day to stop processions from proceeding to a proposed burial site, violating restrictions on gatherings.
The Kuki-Zomi organisation, Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, had planned the burial of 35 people, who were killed in ethnic riots in the state at a site in Haolai Khopi village of Churachandpur, resulting in tension in many districts.
The Manipur Police on Friday said joint forces conducted search operations in vulnerable and fringe areas of the strife-torn state and destroyed seven illegal bunkers after fresh violence broke out across various districts.
The northeastern state has been embroiled in ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, following the Meitei’s demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. The violence has claimed the lives of hundreds while displacing thousands.
