Fresh violence claimed three lives in Manipur on Friday even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered six First Information Reports (FIRs) and established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe potential conspiracies behind the recent clashes.
According to officials, violence erupted in a village situated on the border of Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts. A group of insurgents, disguised as security personnel, lured villagers out of their homes under the pretext of a combing operation and opened fire on them.
The attackers, believed to be from the Meitei community, quickly fled the area after shooting down three villagers. Security forces, on a routine patrol, responded to the sound of gunfire and intervened.
The CBI has responded to the escalating violence by setting up a 10-member SIT, led by a DIG-rank officer, to investigate the six cases connected to the recent clashes.
These cases were referred to the CBI by the State Government. Joint Director Ghanshyam Upadhyay was dispatched by the CBI to liaise with State officials, and upon his return, the SIT was officially formed.
The agency has re-registered the six cases, and the investigation will be overseen by the Special Crime Branch in Kolkata, as announced by officials on Friday.
The formation of the SIT aims to uncover any potential conspiracies behind the recent surge in violence in Manipur. As the situation remains volatile, law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to restore peace and security in the region.
The decision to initiate a CBI probe was announced by Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Manipur.
The violence erupted in the northeastern State following a “Tribal Solidarity March” organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the demand of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The clashes have resulted in the loss of nearly 100 lives and left over 300 people injured over the past month.
The escalation of violence was preceded by tensions arising from the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had sparked a series of smaller protests.
The Meiteis, constituting about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population, predominantly reside in the Imphal Valley, while the Nagas and Kukis, collectively accounting for 40 per cent of the population, inhabit the hill districts. To restore peace, approximately 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel
Manipur is geographically divided into hill and valley areas, with the hills covering 90 per cent of the State’s total area and predominantly inhabited by Naga and Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes. The valley areas are predominantly occupied by the Meiteis.