Imphal: Firing by unknown militants in Manipur’s Imphal East district left one Assam Rifles personnel injured on Wednesday, while life in the violence-hit north-eastern state continued to limp back to normal elsewhere with curfew being relaxed in 11 districts for six hours a day.
People sheltered in temporary camps also started returning home, a defence official said.
At least 60 people were killed and over 30,000 rendered homeless in rioting which engulfed Manipur last week.
Of those who had to leave their homes, 26,000 have been evacuated outside their districts while 4,000 remained in relief camps close to their homes, Information and Public Relations Minister Sapam Ranjan Singh said.
Soldiers on an area domination exercise were fired on by unknown militants at 11 am at Dolaithabi area in Imphal East district, Spear Corps of the Army said.
“After firing a few rounds, the miscreants ran away. One Assam Rifles personnel sustained gunshot wounds. He is currently under treatment,” the army unit said in a tweet.
Various militant groups are known to have participated in the ethnic rioting that broke out between the majority Meitei and tribals mostly from the Kuki and affiliated tribes last week over a move to grant the majority community scheduled tribe status.
A total of 128 columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles or nearly 10,000 soldiers continued flag marches in the affected areas and undertook round-the-clock aerial surveillance using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“The Indian Army along with Assam Rifles have significantly re-engineered the security architecture and numerous resources have been infused in Manipur, especially in the backdrop of the prevailing security situation,” a statement issued by the Defence PRO said.
Stranded people are now returning homes and getting reunited with their loved ones, it said.
Curfew was relaxed in 11 districts including Imphal West, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Jiribam for six hours from 5 am, officials said.
The Army is undertaking surveillance of areas not only in the hinterland but also along the India-Myanmar Border.
“Round-the-clock surveillance through Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with specific tasking, employment of MI-17 and Cheetah helicopters of Indian Air Force and Army and numerous foot patrols and flag marches to restore the confidence of locals on ground are being resorted to,” the defence statement said.
Meanwhile, Assam Rifles said the force has evacuated 1,229 people from Nagaland, who were stranded in Manipur.
They include 47 Konyak tribe women from Yairipok in Thoubal district who were workers at a veneer factory there.
Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) Maj Gen Vikas Lakhera said in Kohima that most of the people from Nagaland who were stranded have been rescued.
He said that though no more calls were received on the helpline numbers, the lines are still open for those requiring help.
Violent clashes broke out in the north-eastern state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The clashes were preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent 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.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
The army also urged people not to fall for “malicious attempts to disturb harmony through manipulated interpretation or misrepresentation of facts” as “inimical elements may once again attempt to spread malicious unverified content”.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Monday said that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses including religious places burnt in the ethnic violence that rocked the northeastern state for the past few days.
Also Read | Manipur: Assam Rifles personnel injured in firing in Imphal East