Imphal: A civilian was killed and two were injured on Monday in violent clashes in two villages located along Manipur's Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts, officials said. There was a brief lull between 3 am and 6 am before the sounds of indiscriminate firing from Phayeng and Singda villages in the Kangchuk area along the two districts resumed.
Earlier officials had said that a policeman had died in the violence but it was later clarified that the victim was a civilian, who was carrying a .303 rifle believed to have been stolen from the police armoury. Joint search of the area of Geljang was carried out and one body along with a .303 rifle was recovered from the spot, officials said.
The deceased has been identified as Saikhom Suban Singh (26), who hailed from Village Naoremthong Achom Leikai, 25 km away from the spot of the clash in Imphal West district. The body will be handed over to the police post completion of the search, they said. Tension prevailed in Imphal city following the incident and paramilitary forces were deployed in the affected area. Shops and other business establishments remained shut.
Assam Rifles manages a buffer zone between the two villages. Officials did not rule out the possibility of more casualties from both sides and said the exact picture can be ascertained only after the firing stops. At least 150 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. (PTI)
