Suspected militants carried out a devastating attack on Khamelock village in Imphal East district, resulting in the loss of at least nine lives and leaving 10 others injured. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, and indiscriminate firing by the assailants claimed the lives of innocent villagers. Unofficial sources suggest the death toll may be as high as 11, according to news agency IANS. A police official confirmed that heavily armed militants launched the assault late at night, using automatic weapons to target the villagers. Superintendent of Police Imphal East, Shivkanta Singh, reported that nine individuals were killed, and 10 others were wounded in the fresh outbreak of violence. Postmortem procedures are currently underway.
The victims were caught off guard as they were either asleep or had just finished their dinner when the militants unleashed a hail of bullets from their sophisticated firearms. The injured were immediately rushed to various hospitals, but the situation remains critical for several of them, potentially leading to a rise in the death toll. The attackers, equipped with advanced weaponry, surrounded the villagers residing in the Khamelock area, located between Imphal East district and Kangpokpi district, before launching the assault at approximately 1 am. The injured individuals have been admitted to Imphal hospital for treatment.
Earlier, on Monday night, a gunfight broke out in the Khamenlok area, resulting in injuries to nine people during an exchange of fire between militants and village volunteers. Furthermore, the security forces engaged in a firefight with Kuki militants in Bishnupur district's Phougakchao Ikhai on Tuesday, as per information provided by the police to news agency PTI. The Kuki militants had attempted to construct bunkers near Meitei localities but were met with resistance from the security forces, leading to the exchange of gunfire.
In response to the ongoing violence, the district authorities have reduced the curfew relaxation hours in Imphal East and Imphal West districts from 5 am to 6 pm to 5 am to 9 am. Currently, curfews remain in effect in 11 out of the 16 districts of Manipur, while internet services have been suspended throughout the entire northeastern state.
The clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, which started a month ago, have resulted in the loss of approximately 100 lives and left 310 others injured. Army and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to restore peace in the state. The initial outbreak of violence occurred on May 3, following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts, organized to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Manipur's population comprises around 53% Meiteis, who primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, while the remaining 40% consists of tribal Nagas and Kukis residing in the hill districts.