Manipur CM N Biren Singh: Conflict has once again broken out in Manipur. On Sunday (May 28), the security forces carried out a major operation in the state. Giving information, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that around 40 armed militants involved in arson of houses and firing on civilians have been killed by the security forces.
Clashes broke out between armed groups and security forces at more than half a dozen places in Manipur on Sunday. The chief minister claimed that the latest round of clashes were not between rival communities, but between Kuki militants and security forces. Singh also said that there have been cases of armed militants firing on civilians with AK-47, M-16 and sniper rifles. He said that the security forces targeted these militants in retaliation.
Appeal not to obstruct the movement
The chief minister appealed to the people not to obstruct the movement of security personnel and urged them to “keep faith in the government and support the security forces”. Biren Singh said, “We have experienced hardships for so long and we will never let the state disintegrate.”
Jat Regiment caught the militants
He said that many Kuki militants involved in the killing of civilians and damage to property and arson of houses have been apprehended by the Jat Regiment. Officials said the latest clashes began in the early hours of Sunday after the army launched a search operation to disarm the communities in a bid to restore peace.
firing in many areas
A top security official said that the house of BJP MLA Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh at Uripok in Imphal West was vandalized and two of his vehicles were torched. He also said that clashes broke out at several places in the early hours of the morning in several districts around the Imphal Valley. “As per our information, firing has been reported from Sugnu in Kakching, Kangvi in Churachandpur, Kangchup in Imphal West, Sagolmang in Imphal East, Nungoipokpi in Bishenpur, Khurkhul in Imphal West and YKPI in Kangpokpi,” the official said.
More than 75 people died in Manipur
The official said that unconfirmed information has also been received from the Kakching police station about the looting of weapons by the Meitei group. Over 75 people were killed in caste clashes in Manipur after the Meitei community organized a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts on May 3 to protest their demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
About 140 companies of Army and Assam Rifles, comprising more than 10,000 personnel, had to be deployed, apart from paramilitary forces, to restore normalcy in the state.
