3,734 FIRs in month-long violence across Manipur

Around 3,734 FIRs have been registered and a 65 people arrested in the ethnic violence which broke out in Manipur on May 3. The state has witnessed 4,014 cases of arson with 98 people losing their life.

On Saturday, at least 15 people were injured when suspected Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons and bombs attacked two villages in Manipur's Imphal West district, police said Personnel of the state police and Manipur Rifles stationed at the two villages - Phayeng and Kangchup Chingkhong - retaliated leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for more than four hours on Friday night and later pushed back the militants to nearby hills, the police said.

Manipur witnessed unprecedented violent clashes, attacks, counter attacks and arsoning of houses, vehicles and government and private properties in more than 10 districts during and after May 3 'Tribal Solidarity March' called by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.


Around 144 sophisticated arms, looted earlier from the police and other security forces, have been surrendered at different districts in Manipur after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal.

An organisation, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) Media Coordinator Somendro Thokchom said that following the Home minister's appeal weapons were surrendered in the valley.

There are reports of arson in Phayeng, Sugnu, Chandonpokpi, Pombikhok, Napat and Tangjeng, Kuki militants continue to burn houses and fire guns.

Defence officials said that intelligence information-based combing operations are underway across Manipur.

"To ensure sustainable peace in Manipur, security forces have identified de-weaponization and enforcement of the provisions of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed with the Kuki militants as focal points to be addressed immediately from the security perspective across Manipur," a defence spokesman said.