New Delhi: At least 16 people were injured in what Manipur police have referred to as “heavy exchange of fire” in various parts of the state on Friday, June 2.
Police announced the firing a day later, on June 3.
The incident took place a day after Union home minister Amit Shah’s three-day Manipur visit ended. Shah had been in the state 25 days after violence broke out and gave way to brutal ethnic battles, leading to over 98 deaths and tens of thousands getting displaced.
The news agency PTI has reported that armed “insurgents” exchanged fire with security forces in Chandolpokpi, Tangjeng, Pombikhok and Kamson villages in Bishnupur district on Friday morning.
While locals had to flee Tangjeng village in the aftermath of the violence, in Bethel village in Churachandpur district, a house was burnt down. As many as 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps, a new statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office noted on Saturday.
Although the incidents saw no casualties, Indian Express has reported that most of those injured are from the valley. One person is said to be in a critical condition.
According to the Express report, the violence was believed to have concentrated around the Phayeng region and was perpetrated by militants with sophisticated weapons.
Phayeng resident Angom Rabikanta is quoted in the report as having said that a trio of armed attackers were “suspected to be Kuki militants”. Villagers who had licensed weapons fired back, to be joined by more villagers from adjoining areas, he said.
The firing was “intense,” according to Rabikanta.
Weapons and ammunition are believed to have been stolen from security storage in the course of the violence. Armed forces have been keen to recover them and have issued warnings asking for their return.