Imphal: Fresh violence erupted in trouble-torned Manipur on May 24 morning.
In various firing incidents by Kuki militants, at least one Meitei Hindu person was killed, and two more were injured in the Thamnapokpi foothills of Bishnupur district on May 24 morning. Kuki militants also fired on the Meitei community in Imphal East, Imphal West and Jiribam districts.
The firing at Thamnapokpi took place at around 9.30 am on May 24. The man who was killed in the firing was identified as Toijam Chandramani Singh of Churachandpur district. Reports are coming that intervening night of May 23 and 24, when three houses in the Thamnapokpi area of Bishnupur district were set ablaze by suspected Kuki militants. Violence erupted in the area after the militants set the house of the Meitei community on fire. More houses belonging to the Meitei community were burnt by the miscreants later on.
Following the incidents, a curfew was imposed without any relaxation until further orders in Bishnupur, Imphal East, Imphal West and Jiribam districts.
After the fresh attack by the suspected Kuki militants, an angry mob stormed the residence of State Minister Govindas Konthoujam in Ningthoukhong town in Bishnupur district and allegedly vandalised the property. The mob alleged that not enough action had been taken to control the attacks of Kuki militants in the hill districts. Meiti community leaders, unwilling to disclose their names, said that the Kuki militants are targeting the Meitei people in the hill districts and attacking them. Their houses were set on fire, and militants were firing openly on the Meitei community. They demand immediate and stern action against the militants by the security forces.
Minister Govindas Konthoujam was not at home at the time of the mob attack, and no one from his family was injured. Govindas Konthoujam is the PWD and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister and BJP MLA from Bishnupur.
Another civilian suffered bullet injuries in Singda Kadangband in Imphal West after armed miscreants opened fire in the early hours of May 24.
The violence started in Manipur on May 3 that left at least 72 dead, more than 200 injured. Miscreants set ablaze at least 1700 houses, and thousands were displaced.
