Monitoring Desk
IMPHAL: Nine people, including a woman, have been killed and 10 others injured on Tuesday after fresh violence erupted in northeastern Indian state Manipur.
The Indian media quoted military sources as saying that the deaths took place in an incident of firing late night in Khamenlok area.
According to police, suspected militants armed with sophisticated weapons surrounded the villagers and launched the attack at around 1 am.
Several of those injured were rushed to hospitals in state capital Imphal. Some of those killed in the violence have cut marks on their bodies and multiple bullet injuries, the media reports said.
The incident comes as a major setback amid efforts to restore peace to the state, which has been tense for more than a month now due to ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Meanwhile, the district authorities have cut short the curfew relaxation hours from the usual 5 am to 6 pm in Imphal East and Imphal West to 5 am to 9 am.
Khamenlok, where the incident occurred, is located near the border of Kangpokpi and Imphal east districts. The area has been tense for the past couple of days.
On Monday night, nine people were injured in the Khamenlok area in exchange of fire between militants and village volunteers.
The security forces also exchanged fire with Kuki militants at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district on Tuesday, police said.
The Kuki militants were trying to make bunkers close to Meitei localities when they were challenged by security forces resulting in the exchange of fire.
At least 100 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that broke out a month ago. Army and para-military personnel were deployed to restore peace.
Curfew remains in force in 11 of the 16 districts of Manipur, while internet services are suspended in the entire northeastern state.
Clashes first broke out on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 percent 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.
