By PC Bureau
Manipur is once again gripped by violence as ethnic strife between the Imphal Valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities continues to fuel unrest and bloodshed. Early Monday, a farmer in Imphal East district was injured when militants, firing from hilltop positions, targeted paddy fields—a troubling incident that marks the third consecutive day of attacks on valley farmers by militants stationed in surrounding hills, police reported. The repeated strikes have left many farmers fearful to tend to their crops, jeopardizing the harvest season in affected areas.
In the latest attack, gunfire erupted in the Yaingangpokpi Shantikhongban area of Imphal East, leaving one farmer with pellet wounds. Security forces responded swiftly, exchanging fire with the militants in a brief encounter. The injured farmer received medical care and is in stable condition, authorities confirmed. This comes on the heels of Saturday’s killing of a 34-year-old woman in Bishnupur district and similar attacks in various parts of Imphal East on Sunday.
The ongoing ethnic conflict, which erupted in May last year, has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands. Amidst this turmoil, 10 Kuki MLAs released a joint statement condemning Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s recent Supreme Court submission, which claimed that Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had been meeting with Kuki representatives to address peace efforts. The MLAs called this statement a “blatant lie,” asserting they have not met with Singh since May 2023 and accusing him of masterminding the violence against their community.
The MLAs further criticized Mehta’s “unprofessional conduct” for allegedly presenting inaccurate information to the Court and emphasized their unwillingness to meet Singh, whom they hold responsible for the violence. They also condemned the recent killing of Zosangkim Hmar, a Kuki woman in Jiribam district, blaming “Meitei militias” and lamenting the continued violence despite a heavy security presence.
The Supreme Court, which has ordered an examination of audio recordings that reportedly reveal Singh’s role in the conflict, is closely monitoring the situation, as communities in Manipur grapple with unrelenting violence and political discord.
