Manipur: Fresh violence kills 4, curfew reimposed in 5 districts, why is the conflict intractable?

Violence in the northeastern state of Manipur, reeling under the burden of unchecked targeted mob violence since May 3, 2023 resurfaced again. On New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024, four people were allegedly shot dead while five others suffered critical injuries in Manipur’s Thoubal district. Those killed,  whose bodies were brought to Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal for post-mortem examination, have been  identified as Md Daulat (30), M Sirajuddin (50), Md Azad Khan (40) and Md Hussain (22), all Muslims, an official told news agency PTI. The social media handle, @HateDetectors tweeted, “Four #Muslims were allegedly shot dead and five others injured in #Manipur‘s #Thoubal district on Monday evening, following which curfew was reimposed in the five valley districts of the state.Gunmen, who are yet to be identified, arrived in camouflage dresses in the #LilongChingjao area, and opened fire targeting locals, police said…While four people died on the spot, five others were injured. Those injured were admitted to a hospital, officials said.After the attack, the enraged locals set three four-wheelers on fire. It was not immediately clear to whom these cars belonged.”

Following the fresh violence, curfew has been reimposed in Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, officials said.

In addition to this, seven security personnel have been injured in Manipur gunfight yesterday. According to media reports, seven security officers were left injured after the first outbreak.

In a latest update, some official told PTI that the situation in minority-dominated Lilong Chingjao area in Manipur’s Thoubal district remained calm but tense on Tuesday as additional security forces were deployed.

Social media users have been sharply critical of both the state and union government over past months. SInce yesterday too, criticisms have been sharp and intense.

Manipur has been festering since the first bout of violence in early May (May 3, 2023) and now curfew was reimposed in the five valley districts of the state – Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur. It has been reported that  “The Curfew Relaxation order is hereby cancelled with immediate effect and curfew Is Imposed in the whole revenue jurisdiction of Thoubal District Immediately prohibiting the movement of persons outside their respective residences in the District,” said the order issued by A Subhash, District Magistrate of the district. “All persons belonging to essential services such as Health, PHED, MSPDCL/MSPCL, Municipalities, Print and Electronic Media and functioning of the Courts are however exempted from imposition of curfew,” the order added.

According to the the Hindustan Times report, senior police officers confirmed the killings in the Lilong neighbourhood of Thoubal, however, stated that they had not yet arrived at the scene when this report was sent. The locals in Lilong verified the firing and posted pictures of the deceased victims, the report stated.Speaking on the incident, one of the officials, requesting anonymity said, “One of the injured is reportedly critical. We received information that some of the attackers have been caught by locals but it is yet to be verified. Police are yet to reach the village because protesters have gathered there,” as quoted by HT.

Meanwhile there has been silence from the political leadership at the union government level. However, top government officials, according to other media reports,  will also assess and decide on curfew measures during the day starting today i.e. on January 2. After New Year’s Day  fresh attack, Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemned the violence and appealed to people, especially the residents of Lilong to maintain peace. “Police are working to arrest those behind the attack. They will be arrested soon and punished as per the law,” he said. Officials earlier told PTI that Gunmen, who are yet to be identified, arrived in camouflage dresses in the Lilong Chingjao area and opened fire on a few locals. Reports also indicate that extortion was the motive but were chased away from a person in the locality. “They were later chased away by the locals, but the miscreants “opened fire while fleeing”, he said. After the attack, the enraged locals set fire to four vehicles in which the attackers had arrived. It was not immediately clear to whom those belong.  MLA from the Lilong constituency MLA Abdul Nasir said officials concerned have apprised him of the situation, and that the culprits will be nabbed soon. Security has also been strengthened in the area. Few days earlier,  on December 30, the state witnessed a fresh outbreak of violence between Meitei and Kuki groups in the Kangpokpi district in which a Meitei man was killed. Another strife had involved Manipur police commandos and militants in which one commando sustained bullet injuries in the border town of Moreh.

This round of violence broke out after the December 4, 2023 round when the  Tengnoupal district witnessed the death of 13 people. More than 180 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

As winter grips the hapless state of Manipur, close to 50,000 persons languish in poor conditions, with sparse access to food and medicines in the state relief camps,

(With inputs from PTI)

Related:

Bengaluru Archbishop seeks PM’s intervention on Manipur, attacks on churches

Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority offers assistance to displaced Manipuri students

‘Can’t keep the pot boiling over dead bodies’: Supreme Court directs dignified cremation/burial of Manipur violence victims