The violence that broke out in Manipur has caused death and injuries to several people in the state. Reportedly the death toll went above 70 and recently a man was found to have 17 bullets in his body from surviving the clash.
Manipur clashes between the ethnic communities of Meitei and Kuki started on May 3, while the situation is improving now, many people got severely injured in the violence like this man identified as Pauginmuan who reportedly took 17 bullets in his body.
According to reports, 25-year-old Pauginmuan was brought to Churachandpur district hospital on May 3 when the violence broke out in Thengra Leirak in Manipur.
It is said that the Manipur hospital was able to extract only four bullets from his body while the rest of the bullets are reportedly lodged too close to vascular veins. Much more advanced medical assistance and necessary types of equipment will be required to extract the rest and that is not available in the state. Thus Pauginmuan was taken to Civil Hospital in Aizwal, Mizoram on Sunday for further surgeries, reportedly.
Reports suggest that there are 5,822 internally displaced people belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo community, are lodged at temporary relief camps across six districts of Mizoram who fled the hills of Manipur. The maximum IDP hosting capacity of Aizwal's Saitual district has been surpassed.
Aizawl district currently has the highest number of such displaced people at 2021, followed by Kolasib (1,847) and Saitual (1,790), reportedly.
Meanwhile, Mizoram Lok Sabha member C Lalrosanga has endorsed the demand by Manipur tribal MLAs for a separate administration for tribals.
According to reports, claiming that tribal people can no longer exist under the Manipur government, 10 Kuki MLAs, including seven from the BJP, had on Friday urged the Centre to create a separate administration in the wake of the violent clashes.
The clashes had broken out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Reportedly, the violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts, says the reports.
According to reports, the Mizo National Youth Front in its statement on Sunday informed that four people belonging to the ethnic community of Zo has been airlifted to Guwahati after they were severely injured by bullets. Chief Minister Zoramthanga of Mizoram and the Army made it possible for Diamond Thang, Paukhanhual, James Nangminlung and Hatkhanhawih to be given immediate medical attention.
(With PTI inputs)