Nine people were injured in firing incidents at multiple locations in Manipur today, adding to the already heightened ethnic tensions in the northeastern state. The first firing occurred in Kangchup village, near the state capital Imphal, between 10:30 am and 11 am. Sources revealed that the firing was a result of some people from the valley areas searching for two missing youths. The Kuki group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) claimed that four middle-aged civilians had been kidnapped in Kangpokpi district, while the Manipur Police confirmed the incident and stated that security forces were actively working to locate and rescue the missing individuals.
The disappearances, kidnappings, and claims and counter-claims have intensified the tension, leading to today’s incidents. Later in the evening, the police arrested two insurgents of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (Unification) who were suspected of being involved in the disappearance of the two youths. Earlier in the day, suspected insurgents in the hills near Kangchup fired at those searching for the valley youths, injuring eight people near a paddy field. Another firing incident took place in Thoubal district’s Maphou Dam, and a fourth incident occurred in Nambol Irengbam.
All the firing incidents took place in or near the foothills, with forested hills overlooking agricultural fields. Ethnic tensions between the Kuki tribes and the Meiteis, who are the majority in the hills and the valley respectively, have persisted for over six months since clashes between the two communities resulted in deaths and displacement.
Of the nine injured individuals, one is a Manipur Police commando, one is a Village Defence Force (VDF) member, and seven are civilians. Two of the injured, a man and a woman, are in a serious condition. Purported visuals of the firing incidents show the woman lying on the road with a bullet injury on her back, asking if they are going to die. The man reassures her and calls for help.
The ITLF has appealed to the security forces to launch an operation to rescue the four alleged kidnap victims from Kangpokpi district. The forum stated that the victims were accosted by gunmen while traveling, resulting in injuries to a 65-year-old man who was later found and transported to Leimakhong. The ITLF also mentioned that two women and two men were taken captive in the valley.
The situation in Manipur has raised concerns about the violation of the ground rules of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed between 25 Kuki insurgent groups, the central government, and the state government. Under the agreement, the insurgent groups are required to stay at designated camps and keep their weapons in locked storage for joint monitoring with the security forces. The Kuki tribes have accused the Meitei youth group Arambai Tenggol and other valley-based groups of taking up arms, while the Meiteis have pointed out the alleged involvement of a significant number of Kuki insurgents in attacks on Meitei villages.
The firing incidents and ongoing tensions in Manipur continue to pose a challenge to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
