Though it’s been a month-long violence between Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur, still, both groups are not ready to join the peace committee constituted by the Union government.
The majority of Meiteis demanded the Scheduled Tribe status that led to violence in the state a month ago.
Due to this conflicting situation, tight security forces have been deployed in different parts of the State. Still, today at around 11 am, Kuki militants attacked Meitei civilians at Khamenlok located in the adjoining area of Shantipur hill range under the Imphal East district. Out of nine volunteers injured, two victims are in critical situations while the others are stable.
Today, a large number of ‘Kuki militants’ armed with heavy weapons came and attacked the civilians in Khamenlok. The security personnel deployed in a nearby area got alert and retaliated resulting in a gun battle.
According to The Hindu Report, there was also an exchange of fire between the two groups on Monday morning in Khamenlok near Sagolmang in Imphal East district.
The statement that has been issued on Monday by Kuki Inpi Manipur – an apex body of Kuki tribes reads, “The acts of aggression by the Meiteis even during the visits of the Union Home Minister and the Governor of Manipur is total disregard and vilification to the Government of India’s peace plan (sic),”.
According to Hindustan Time, COCOMI convener Jeetendra Ningomba said, “COCOMI will not take part in the peace committee unless our demand for controlling narco-terrorism aggression (by Kuki groups) is met. There should be some normalcy and violence should end for the peace committee to function,” COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, a conglomerate of five civil society groups from Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley).
People reacted on Twitter for government initiatives to handle the situation:
