Five people were killed in a gunfight between Kuki and Meitei groups early Saturday in Jiribam district during a new wave of violence in the northeastern state.
According to police, one person was shot dead while sleeping, and four armed individuals were killed in the following exchange of gunfire. The attackers entered the home of the victim, who lived alone about 5 km from the district headquarters, and shot him while he was asleep.
After the killing, a fierce gunfight erupted between armed men from the rival communities in the hills, about 7 km from the district headquarters. Four armed men, including three militants from the hills, were killed in the clash. This incident followed an attack the previous day, where suspected militants launched two rockets in Bishnupur district, killing one person and injuring five others. The Imphal Valley region has been tense due to recent high-tech attacks.
Rocket Attacks And Drone Bombings Escalate Violence In Manipur
The rocket attacks followed drone bombings in two areas of Imphal West district earlier in the week, marking a first in the state, where ethnic violence since May last year has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands. On Friday, thousands of residents across five districts in the Imphal Valley formed human chains to protest against militant attacks.
Due to the rising unrest from bomb attacks, the Manipur government ordered schools to close on September 7. Officials reported the first rocket attack on Friday in Tronglaobi, Bishnupur district, while the second rocket landed at the home of former chief minister Mairembam Koireng in Moirang, killing an elderly man and injuring five others.
Security Forces On High Alert After Rocket Attacks
A central security force official informed PTI that security forces are on high alert and have been deployed to the edges of valley districts, particularly near Bishnupur bordering Churachandpur, and Imphal West bordering Kangpokpi districts. Officials explained that the rockets, which were improvised locally and unguided, were fired from the elevated Thangjing hill ranges in Churachandpur district towards the lower Moirang town.
