Imphal, May 06: Violence in Manipur has escalated once again, with reports of four people being shot dead in Churachandpur. The shooting occurred during an evacuation of Meiteis in the area, allegedly by tribals who attempted to intervene.
Meanwhile, a tax assistant, Letminthang Haokip, was killed in Imphal. The IRS Association has condemned the killing, saying that “no cause or ideology can justify the killing of an innocent public servant on duty”.
The violence in Manipur has been ongoing, with clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribe for several days. In the state capital of Imphal, the Kukis have been targeted, while the Meiteis have been targeted in areas dominated by hill tribes.
Muan Hansingh, a researcher and resident of Churachandpur, said that unrest began on Friday evening when security personnel began evacuating Meitei people from the area.
Those opposed to the evacuation gathered on the town’s main road to barricade it, but security forces opened fire, resulting in the deaths of four people. An Assam Rifles official in Imphal said that four people had died in the firing, while a senior police official from the district put the number at three.
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Meanwhile, the central security forces are monitoring the situation around the clock, and the evacuation of people from different parts of the state is ongoing. Blockading of roads continues to be common in different parts of the state, causing further disruption and danger to local residents.
This latest round of violence in Manipur comes just one day after a CRPF constable, Chonkholen Haokip, was shot dead when he tried to stop men from setting a village on fire. The DIG (ops) of CRPF has urged all personnel from Manipur who are currently on leave to report to the nearest CRPF, BSF, or SF location, along with their family members, if they feel unsafe or insecure. The safety of all personnel, whether on or off duty, is a top priority in the midst of the ongoing unrest in the region.
