A fresh incident of arson was reported in the Langol area of Manipur on Saturday. Incidents of arson were carried out by some miscreants, resulting in several houses being burnt.
The three were gunned down while they were sleeping and their bodies were later slashed with swords at Kwakta in the district by unidentified men, police said on Saturday morning, adding that the assailants came from Churachandpur.
In another incident, three people including one policeman were injured following a heavy exchange of fire between state forces and militants near Kwakta on Saturday morning, police said.
Across Imphal Valley, women protesters came out on the streets and burnt tyres to block the movement of vehicles. In the wake of renewed violence, the district administration clamped curfew from 10.30 am in the twin Imphal districts.
An official said, “Instead of curfew relaxation from 5 am to 6 pm in the twin Imphal districts, it has now been shortened to 5 am to 10.30 am.”
ARMY LAUNCHES MULTIPLE OPERATIONS, ARRESTS 1 MILITANT
The Army on Saturday launched multiple operations in the Imphal valley during which one militant was injured in an encounter at Mongcham area.
A spokesperson of the Army’s Spear Corps said the injured insurgent was apprehended and a self-loading rifle, ammunition, and war-like stores were recovered.
“During one such search operation, the Indian Army column drew effective fire from armed insurgents from general area Mongcham at approximately 5.30 pm today,” the spokesperson said.
MANIPUR VIOLENCE
Ethnic violence broke out in the northeastern state nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.
The violence erupted on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts
