In a tragic incident, three "village volunteers" lost their lives and five others sustained injuries during a fierce exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen in Manipur's Bishnupur district, according to local police reports on Sunday.
The violent encounter occurred late Saturday night at Khoijumantabi village, where the village volunteers were stationed to guard the area from a makeshift bunker, as revealed by a police officer familiar with the matter. Initially, two bodies were discovered at the scene, while the third victim was recovered later.
While there have been claims of another fatality from certain sources, authorities have not confirmed the additional death. The shootout lasted for several hours, resulting in injuries to five individuals. Some of the wounded, with serious conditions, were swiftly transported to a hospital in Imphal for urgent medical treatment, as confirmed by police sources.
In response to the incident, Chief Minister N Biren Singh personally visited the affected area to assess the situation and engage with the local community, emphasizing the government's commitment to maintaining peace and security.
Meanwhile, a prominent association representing the Hmar community asserted that one of the deceased individuals belonged to their tribe and was killed by what they described as "terrorists." The Hmar Students' Association issued a statement demanding the identification and punishment of the perpetrators. They further called upon the central government to augment security measures and extend support to the Kuki-Hmar-Zomi-Mizo community.
Tragically, the ongoing ethnic strife between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has already claimed the lives of over 100 individuals, perpetuating tensions in the region. The Meitei population, constituting approximately 53 percent of Manipur's inhabitants, primarily resides in the Imphal Valley, while the Nagas and Kukis, collectively comprising 40 percent, predominantly inhabit the hill districts.
