A village in the Khamenlok area of Manipur was targeted in a violent attack by suspected miscreants, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people and leaving 10 others injured. The armed assailants surrounded the Kuki village located on the border of Imphal East district and Kangpokpi district and initiated the assault around 1 am, leading to a fierce gun battle with casualties on both sides.
Three persons have been reported missing in the aftermath of the attack. The region is known for its ethnic strife between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
In response to the escalating violence, the district authorities have imposed curfews in several districts of Manipur. The curfew relaxation hours have been shortened to 5 am to 9 am in Imphal East district and Imphal West district, while curfew remains in force in 11 out of the 16 districts.
Internet services have also been suspended throughout the northeastern State. These measures aim to restore peace and normalcy in the aftermath of the recent wave of ethnic violence, which has claimed the lives of over 100 individuals and left 310 injured.
The clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities first erupted on May 3 when a “Tribal Solidarity March” was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The Meiteis, who constitute about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and predominantly reside in the Imphal Valley, have been engaged in conflicts with the tribal communities, including Nagas and Kukis, who account for 40 per cent of the population and inhabit the hills.
In the midst of the ongoing violence and its aftermath, the Congress has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for their perceived inaction and failure to restore peace in Manipur. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the prime minister of being a “mute spectator” and highlighted the absence of a meeting chaired by him to address the situation in the violence-hit State.
Kharge further asserted that the measures announced by Home Minister Amit Shah were insufficient and had not produced tangible results on the ground. The Congress party raised questions about the BJP government’s inability to bring peace and normalcy to Manipur, suggesting that the party’s divisive politics may be fueling the tensions between ethnic groups for political gain.
“Shri Narendra Modi has remained a mute spectator. Modi ji has not even had the time to chair a meeting on Manipur. But, the Congress party shall keep questioning Modi Government’s rank incompetence,” he said on Twitter.
“Why has the ‘double engine’ BJP Government failed to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur? Is it because the BJP intends to widen the fissures between ethnic groups for its cheap political gains?” he also asked.
Kharge said news reports of “NDA’s NEDA chairman and Assam chief minister and RSS’ national executive member taking the help of insurgent groups” to fight previous elections are clearly saying so.
“Why hasn’t the Prime Minister not called an All-Party meeting to deliberate political solutions? It is high time the Modi government take responsibility for their crimes perpetrated on the people of Manipur and becomes accountable,” he said.