Manipur violence: Following reports of further violence in the village of Khoijumantabi in Manipur‘s Bishnupur district, at least three persons died. The three “village volunteers” were slain during a firefight with unidentified gunmen as they were guarding the area in an improvised bunker. In the Saturday night shootout, five other people suffered injuries. A few injured people were transported to an Imphal hospital because of their reportedly serious conditions, according to the police.
Kuki Organizations Respond to Union Home Minister’s Call for Peace
The United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), two umbrella Kuki organisations, have meanwhile removed barriers off National Highway 2 in Manipur‘s Kangpokpi district. Following a request from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the action was taken. The two Kuki organisations declared in a joint statement that the highway roadblock has been lifted immediately. According to the groups, the home minister had demonstrated “deep concern to restore peace and harmony” in the state. The NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) are the two national highways in Manipur. Since the unrest in Manipur began in May, Kuki outfits have blocked the NH-2.
‘Tribal Solidarity March’ Ignites Ethnic Conflicts in Manipur
A ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ that was held in the hill regions on May 3 to oppose the Meitei community’s desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) classification led to the first of many ethnic conflicts that Manipur saw. Following the violence, Manipur’s eight districts were placed under a curfew, and the entire northeastern state’s mobile internet connections were shut down for a number of days. Tension over the displacement of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land had caused a number of smaller agitations before to the violence in Manipur. The majority of Meiteis, who make up around 53% of Manipur’s population, reside in the Imphal Valley. Another 40% of the population is made up of the Naga and Kuki tribes, who live in the hill districts.
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