GUWAHATI, Sept 7: A fresh wave of violence has engulfed Manipur with nine people killed in armed clashes in Jiribam district, prompting a valley based Meitei civil society group- Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), to declare a “public emergency” across the state urging people to remain indoors for “fear of attacks by hills based Kuki militants”.
The Manipur government, on Saturday, closed all educational institutions following the escalation in violence, which began a day earlier, with crude bombs being dropped by drones from the air by suspected Hills based Kuki militants that led to the death of two people and injury to several others in a village in Imphal West.
Saturday’s clashes erupted after suspected Kuki militants sneaked into the home of an elderly Meitei man, 63 year old Y Kulachandra at Ningthem Khunou village, 5 kms from Jiribam police station, and shot him dead while he lay asleep.
The armed group later engaged in a gun battle with another armed outfit resulting in the death of eight persons.
Among the nine killed, two are believed to be Meitei militants, four Kuki militant groups and a Meitei civilian.
with violence escalating, the valley based COCOMI announced an indefinite public emergency in Manipur.
“During this period, all public and private institutions, markets, business establishments, and banks will have to remain closed. Roads will remain open only for emergency movement, while essential services, religious activities, and rituals shall exempt,” COCOMI media coordinator Yumkhaibam Surjitkumar Khuman said in a statement.
The organization has also targeted the central forces deployed in the state serving them a three-day ultimatum to take visible action against Kuki militants.
“If no action is taken, they (central forces) must leave the state or confine themselves to their camps. Their mere presence without action is now seen as a direct threat to public safety,” alleged COCOMI.
In a clear sign of a collapse of the law and order in the state, the COCOMI has been giving public announcements urging the Meira Paibis (women’s groups) and local clubs to stop any movement of central armed forces within civilian areas and border zones if no progress is seen within three days.
It has also called on youth groups (Khun-Ngakpa, VVF, student volunteers, local club volunteers and others to remain alert for any form of eventualities both inside and the forward front of the civilian populated areas during emergency hours.
Khuman said the declaration comes after months of violence, particularly the recent drone and missile attacks targeting civilians, which have resulted in multiple casualties.
“The people of Manipur, especially the indigenous Metei population, now face a coordinated proxy war by the Indian government and its military allies,” he alleged.
Earlier, COCOMI set a 5-day deadline for Indian forces to either take definitive action against Kuki militant groups or withdraw from Manipur.
“The people of Manipur have lost trust in the central forces’ approach, as they have failed to adequately address the situation,” claimed COCOMI.
