Manipur Violence: Manipur once again witnessed violence on the occasion of New Year, in which four people were shot dead and many were injured. After the incident, curfew was again imposed in five valley districts of the state. According to NDTV, locals in Thoubal district claimed that a group of people, who have not been identified yet, had come with automatic weapons for extortion.
How did the violence happen?
According to the information, this incident took place on Monday (January 1) evening, when unknown armed miscreants among 4 Gypsies came with guns to Lilong Nungei, a Muslim-populated area of Thoubal district, and opened fire and killed four people. After the attack, angry locals set fire to the vehicles of the gunmen. But the attackers escaped. The motive behind the attack is not yet clear.
A local said, “The group came here with guns and were talking to a person they knew, a fight started. Soon they started shooting at everyone.”
‘Help the government in catching the culprits’
At the same time, State Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemned the violence in a video message and appealed to the people to maintain peace.
I express extreme sorrow over the killing of innocent people. We have deployed police teams to catch the criminals. With folded hands, I appeal to the residents of Lilong (where the incident took place) to help the government in arresting the culprits. I promise that the government will make every effort to provide justice under the law.
N Biren Singh, Chief Minister, Manipur
CM held a meeting with ministers and MLAs
The Chief Minister also held an emergency meeting of all ministers and ruling party MLAs regarding the incident.
Officials said that after the latest violence, curfew has been reimposed in Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur districts.
Two days ago, four security forces were injured in an exchange of fire between suspected rebels and police commandos in the border town of Moreh in Manipur. Officials said the rebels fired several RPGs which exploded inside the CDO outpost building in Moreh Turelwangma Likai, where the commandos were staying.
Violence continues since last year
Manipur was in the news in 2023 as it witnessed its worst ethnic conflict on May 3, resulting in over 180 deaths and rendering around 60,000 people homeless.
