Ethnic strife escalates in Manipur due to militant involvement

Guwahati: The ethnic strife of Manipur is escalated by the involvement of militants. Police have found that out of six people killed on Saturday in Jiribam three belonged to Kuki militant outfitKuki Liberation Army (KLA), a group that is under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the central government and one from on ceasefire Meitei outfit UNLF (P).

Six people were killed in Jiribam district on Saturday. Among those killed one was a civilian and the rest were armed people.

Manipur police has stated in X, “In c/w the case of 06.09.2024, suspected Kuki militants had attacked Nungchappi village under Jiribam District resulting in death one senior citizen civilian identified as Yurembam Kulendra Singha (63) yrs S/O. (L) Y. Ramohon Singha of Rangar Part-I, Cachar, Assam, who was residing at Ningthem Khunou (Nungchappi), Jiribam. Further, ensuing the incident, there was exchange of heavy firing between different groups at the Tea Estate of Rashidpur Part-II, Jiribam. Police teams had rushed toward the site to control the firing but were fired upon. The Police teams, however, retaliated the fire and could eventually control the situation. A total of five dead bodies were found at the firing incident site at Tea Estate of Rashidpur Part-II. 04(four) dead bodies were later identified, 03(three) of which are Kuki militants (KLA) and one village volunteer, who had initiated the attack, namely (i)Seiminlen Khongsai S/O. Thangtinngam Khongsai of Sijang Village, Churachandpur - KLA (ii)Haogoulen Doungel (31) yrs S/O. Holmang Doungel of Yangnomphai village, Churachandpur - KLA (iii)Nehboithang Haokip (26) yrs S/O. Tongjam Haokip of Maojang village, Samulamlan, Churachandpur District - KLA (iv)Lhunkhohao Haokip (31) yrs S/O. Hemtinthang Haokip of Mongbung Sejang, Jairolpokpi, Jiribam – Village Volunteer It is further stated that of the above, 03 (three) were residents of Churachandpur District and it seems they had traversed a long distance to Jiribam to execute these subversive activities.”


Police added, “ The 5th dead body who was identified as Baspatimayum Lakhi Kumar Sharma (41), was a member of UNLF (P), a resident of Dibong Khunou, Jiribam District.”

Earlier police had identified Sharma as a village volunteer.

The Manipur government led by chief minister N Biren Singh has sought the SoO be scrapped. The SoO is a tripartite agreement signed in 2008 to cease hostilities between 25 Kuki insurgent groups, the central government and the Manipur government.