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In a tragic development, Manipur’s Bishnupur district witnessed the brutal killing of four individuals on Thursday evening, marking a fresh surge in violence. The victims, including a man and his 60-year-old father, fell prey to a group of five to six armed assailants in Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou. The attackers ambushed laborers while they were tending to farmland, shooting them at point-blank range. Following the heinous act, the assailants fled back to the hill ranges.
This incident unfolded mere hours after militants targeted two police commandos in Moreh, near the Myanmar border. In a span of 48 hours, Manipur has witnessed the loss of at least seven lives, accentuating the ongoing wave of violence in the state. The slain police commandos have been identified as Wangkhem Somorjit (32) and Takhellambam Saileshwore from Lamshang in Imphal West district.
Somorjit succumbed to injuries sustained during an ambush near Ima Kondong Lairembi Devi temple. In a separate incident on the same day, Saileshwore fell victim to militants’ gunfire. Two other police personnel, Constable N Bheem (35) and ASI Sidharth Thokchom (35), sustained injuries during the Moreh violence and were airlifted to RIMS in Imphal for medical treatment.
Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May, triggered by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then, the region has witnessed persistent clashes, resulting in a significant loss of lives. The recent incidents highlight the challenges faced by authorities in curbing violence and restoring stability in the state.
