On November 7, Kangchup Chingkhong village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district became a site of violent firing and conflict. Four members of a tribal soldier’s family, including his mother, were reported missing after they were seized by a mob at a security checkpoint under gunfire while the family was on its way travelling from Churchandpur to Kongpokpi. Although the soldier’s father was rescued by security forces, he also sustained multiple injuries and is currently in critical condition at a hospital. The soldier belonged to the Kuki-Zo community and was not stationed in Manipur and was posted in Kashmir, according to a report by The Hindu. The kidnapping took place after gunfire took place between Kuki-Zo and Meitei community members in a round of violence that lasted about two hours. According to reports, nine people, including two cops and one woman civilian were injured in this round of firing.
This distressing incident unfolded following a two-hour armed attack against individuals from the Kuki-Zo by Meitei people, according to reports. The clash took place in the bordering areas of Kangpokpi, a hill district predominantly inhabited by the Kuki-Zo population, and Imphal West, an area dominated by the Meitei community. Numerous casualties, including bystanders, were reported injured during the altercation. Furthermore, another incidence of firing was reported after armed men reportedly attacked an area near West Imphal.
On November 9, the police were still unable to locate the missing Meitei teenagers. The Manipur Police has informed an Imphal court that they suspect that two were probably already killed by Kuki militants. Thus far, they have recovered the cell phones of the two teenagers found wrapped in black polythene in Senapati district of the state. However, two bodies were recovered by the police from two different districts in Manipur. The police have stated that the description of the two seems to match those of the four Kuki-Zo people who were abducted on November 7. The two include one woman with a bullet shot in the head who was found in Imphal West and another body of a middle aged man was found in Imphal East. The Police have stated that the victim was found blindfolded with similar bullet injuries on his head. Thanghul Haokip, the soldier’s eldest brother, has stated according to the Hindustan Times that, “Police are yet to officially communicate to us about the bodies. We also cannot go to the mortuary where the bodies are kept as it is in Imphal, where Kuki people avoid travelling at this time.” The police have stated that an FIR is filed and the incident is under investigation.
On Thursday, November 9, the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), which comprises of eight student associations, held protests in Kohima, Shillong and Guwahati, where protestors expressed their dissatisfaction with the actions of the Centre. In Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) organised a demonstration on behalf of NESO. The NSF urged the Centre to urgently take actions to intervene and quell the violence in Manipur. According to Deccan Herald, the AASU (All Assam Students’ Union) advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya at the Guwahati protest called on the “silence” of the Prime Minister Modi, asserting that, “It is indeed a shame that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained silence on the Manipur issue while Union Home Minister Amit Shah has taken no step to resolve the crisis.” On November 6, 10 MLAs from Manipur came out in a collective act and called out the excessive force used by the army and police against the Kuki-Zo community, and also urged the Centre to stop the conflict. The MLA’s also included legislators from the ruling government’s party, BJP.
The administration has extended the internet ban once again in the state, which was last slated till November 8, to November 13, except for a few areas. The Manipur conflict has continued since ethnic conflict between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities erupted on May 3, 2023. About 200 people are said to have been killed, and over 60, 000 people have been displaced thus far.
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Manipur: 10 MLAs call out the excessive use of force against the Kuki-Zo community