Security forces were forced to open fire during a protest that spun out of control in Manipur’s Imphal West district. There are, however, no reports of fatalities.
The torch rally, carried out by a large group of demonstrators, took place on Tiddim Road in Keishampat on Sunday evening (September 8). People were protesting against the escalating violence that has engulfed the strife-torn state in the last few weeks.
A fresh bout of violence has sparked widespread concern among residents, especially after five people were killed in Jiribam district on September 7, where prohibitory orders are in place.
According to police, militants entered a person’s home and shot him dead in his sleep. Following the murder, a heavy exchange of fire broke out between members of the warring communities, leading to the deaths of four armed men.
Ethnically diverse Jiribam, which was largely untouched by the ethnic clashes in Imphal Valley and adjoining hills, erupted in violence after a 59-year-old man belonging to one community was killed allegedly by militants of another community in June.
Thousands had to relocate to relief camps due to incidents of arson by both sides. A CRPF jawan was also killed in an ambush by militants in mid-July.
Officials said security was heightened on Sunday (September 8), while the situation was tense but under control. “No new incidents of violence have so far been reported on Sunday. SPs of various districts in coordination with security forces are continuously monitoring the situation,” an official said.
The official said the Assam Rifles has deployed anti-drone systems in the fringe areas of the Imphal Valley to repel any “rogue drones”. The CRPF handed an anti-drone system to the state police for deployment, the official added.
The use of drones to mount attacks was new to the ethnic clashes in Manipur that left over 200 people dead since May last year. It was first seen on September 1 in Koutruk village in the Imphal West district. In the attack, in which guns were also used, two persons were killed and nine others injured. Drones were used again in Senjam Chirang, around 3 km away, the next day, injuring three persons.
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