3 killed, 4 injured in fresh violence in Manipur; NH-2 blockade lifted

Guwahati: Three persons were killed and four others injured in a gunfight between two armed groups in Manipur's Imphal West district on Monday morning, police said. The incident happened in the Kangchup area of the district, they said. Those injured were admitted to a hospital in Imphal where their conditions were stated to be stable, police said.

In Kakching district, four people were injured in Serou in an exchange of fire between two groups, they said.

Earlier in the day, the Imphal-Dimapur Road along National Highway-2, which was blocked since May 3 after large-scale ethnic violence in Manipur, reopened on Monday.


This comes just after Union home minister Amit Shah appealed to the people of Manipur to lift the blockade. Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Shah tweeted: "My sincerest appeal to the people of Manipur is to lift the blockades at the Imphal-Dimapur, NH 2 highway, so that food, medicines, petrol/diesel and other necessary items can reach the people. I also request the CSOs to do the needful in bringing consensus. Together only we can restore normalcy in this beautiful state."

Spokesperson of the Committee on Tribals Unity (COTU), Sadar Hills, Rev K Sitlhou, said that as a goodwill gesture to Shah's visit on May 31 and his humble appeal, the people of Kangpokpi decided to open the National Highway-2 for seven days, starting from June 5.