Advertisement
Imphal/Manipur: A fresh incident of violence was reported in ethnic-strife-torn Manipur on Sunday Morning due to caste conflict between Kuki and Meitei communities. Giving information about the case, a police officer said that the incident took place when several dozen people opened indiscriminate fire on Kautruk village from the Imphal Valley from the hills near Kangpokpi district.
Due to this indiscriminate firing, police informed that some bullets reportedly broke the walls of the villagers’ houses, women, children and elderly people are being evacuated to nearby safe areas. Police said mortar shells, known as ‘pumpi’, were also being fired at the village, causing panic among the residents.
The incident took place as several dozens of armed men opened indiscriminate fire on Koutruk village in the periphery of Imphal Valley from the adjoining hills in Kangpokpi district, a police officer said.
Some of the bullets reportedly pieced walls of the homes of the villagers, he said, adding women, children and the elderly are being evacuated to safe areas nearby.
Locally made mortar shells known as ‘Pumpi’ are also being fired on the village, creating panic among its residents, he said.
After the attack, volunteers from Kautruk village also retaliated, leading to firing, the police officer said, adding that security personnel were being sent to the area to bring the situation under control. However, police said that the encounter was continuing till the time of filing the report. A militant attack took place in Manipur at 2:15 am on 26 April. Two soldiers of CRPF’s 128th battalion were martyred in the attack. This incident happened in Naransena area. According to the information, this attack was carried out by Kuki militants.
Caste violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 last year, when conflict broke out between two castes, Kuki and Meitei. After which this struggle is still not stopping. Let us tell you, Kautruk village is considered one of the most sensitive areas for attacks. Since May 3 last year, more than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic conflict between the Meiteis in the Imphal valley and the Kukis in the nearby hills.
