Manipur Violence flares up again : after two weeks three people were killed

Manipur Violence

In the Thoubal district of Manipur, violence erupted once again in the village of Thovai in the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki inhabited Ukhrul district. Gunshots were heard in the early morning, and according to the police, they found three bodies with clear stab wounds from sharp knives. The BSF and police have initiated a lockdown in the area and begun searching for the suspects.

Manipur Violence flares up again , after two weeks three people were killed (Photo Credit : Aajtak)

Violence Flares Up

After nearly two weeks of calm, violence flared up again in Manipur on a Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of three Kuki youths in the Thovai village of Ukhrul district. This incident has raised concerns about whether the ongoing conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities has now involved the Nagas as well. Ukhrul district is home to the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities, and this marks the first incident of violence in the area. The deceased youths were reportedly attacked while guarding their Thovai village. Thovai is a Kuki community village.

Heavy Gunfire

The police station area of Litang Police Station in the Ukhrul district reported sounds of heavy gunfire early in the morning in the Kuki village of Thovai. According to the police, they discovered three bodies with clear stab wounds from sharp knives. The BSF and police have cordoned off the area and started searching for the suspects. The ages of the three deceased youths range from 24 to 35 years.

Cause of Violence

This violence comes after clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities following the 'Tribal Unity March' organized in Manipur's hill districts to demand Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. More than 150 people have lost their lives in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities, with hundreds of injuries and displacement reported.

Police On High Alert

The recent deaths of youths in the Naga-Bahul district have raised concerns about the worsening situation. The police administration is on high alert following the incident. Police forces have been deployed in the area, and authorities are actively combing for the suspects. As of now, the situation is said to be under control.

Kuki legislators have been demanding a separate Chief Secretary and DGP for the five hill districts of Manipur, citing geographical and demographic divisions between the Meitei and Kuki communities. Amid these developments, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stated that differences will exist at this crucial juncture, but the public should unite and work hard to recover from the losses of the past few months. 

Clarification of Naga insurgent group NSCN (IM)

In the midst of these events, there's been a clarification from the insurgent faction NSCN (IM) regarding alleged arms transactions in Manipur's conflict-ridden communities. This clarification comes hot on the heels of a video clip that recently surfaced. In the video, a member of the group levels accusations suggesting that NSCN (IM) had supplied advanced weaponry to certain factions in Manipur. However, the insurgent group vehemently denies these allegations. They assert that the video clip seems to be a concoction orchestrated by mischievous elements, designed to fan the flames of chaos and cast a shadow over NSCN (IM)'s reputation.

In 1990 Naga and Kuki Communities

The history between the Naga and Kuki communities has been marred by conflicts, with the last violent clashes occurring in the 1990s, resulting in hundreds of deaths. At that time, the conflict was related to land ownership disputes between the two communities. The Kuki community claims its "homeland" in Manipur's hills, which overlaps with the Naga's concept of Greater Nagalim or Naga homeland. This overlapping claim led to violent clashes in the 1990s.

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