Manipur: Fresh violence erupts at Kangchup Hill; 5 injured

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• Nov 7, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Fresh violence rocked Manipur on Tuesday, leaving five people injured in a heavy exchange of gunfire at...

Digital Desk: Fresh violence rocked Manipur on Tuesday, leaving five people injured in a heavy exchange of gunfire at Kangchup Hill. Among the injured are two police personnel and three village volunteers, all of whom were promptly rushed to Imphal Hospital for medical treatment.

The gun battle erupted in the early morning hours in Kangchup village, situated at the border of Imphal West district. Villagers reported that gunshots reverberated through the region around 9:10 a.m., shattering the otherwise peaceful morning.

This unsettling incident follows a day of heightened tension in various parts of the northeastern state. On November 5, two teenage boys, aged 16 and 19, mysteriously disappeared from Imphal West district. The boys had set out towards Sekmai on a two-wheeler that morning but failed to return home as expected. Their mobile phones remained unresponsive, adding to the concern of their family members and local residents. Consequently, missing persons reports were filed with the local police station, and the families sought assistance from Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, and other authorities.

The families of the missing teenagers suspect the involvement of armed Kuki miscreants in their disappearance. They have implored the Manipur government to take swift action in locating the boys.

Surveillance footage from the Sekmai area showed the two boys on their motorcycle heading toward Kanglatombi. Despite mobile phone signals being traced near the Senapati Oil pump, the whereabouts of the teenagers remain unknown as of the time of this report.

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A joint effort involving Kangpokpi District Police, Assam Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is currently underway to conduct search operations in areas suspected to be connected to the boys' disappearance.

Manipur has been grappling with ethnic clashes since May 3, resulting in over 180 fatalities and several hundred injuries. The clashes erupted following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' held in the hill districts, where residents protested against the Meitei community's request for Scheduled Tribe status.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the government has extended the mobile internet ban in Manipur until November 8 to maintain law and order in the strife-ridden state. The situation remains fluid, with residents and authorities eagerly awaiting updates on the missing teenagers and hoping for an end to the violence that has plagued the region for months.