By M.Devanand Sharma
Imphal ( Manipur ), Aug 5 : Three more people died in fresh violence in Manipur’s Bishnupur district.
The three were gunned down while they were sleeping and later slashed with swords, police said on Saturday morning, adding that the assailants came from Churachandpur,
The deceased were reportedly from the Meitei community in the Kwakta area.
The deceased include a father-son duo who were gunned down in their sleep and later slashed with swords by militants. The incident occurred at around 3am when victims were sleeping at their houses under Phougakchao Ikhai police station limits in Kwakta town of Bishnupur district.
They have been identified as Yumnam jiten Meitei (46 yrs). s/o (late) Yumnam Ibohal of kwakta lamlhai KMC ward no.8., Yumnam Pishak Meitei (67 yrs) s/o (late) yumnam Tomba Meitei of kwakta lamkhai KMC ward no.8 and Yumnam premkumar Meitei (39yrs) s/o yumnam Pishak Meitei of kwakta lamkhai KMC ward no.8. The three used to stay in a relief camp but had moved to their residences in Kwakta on Friday after the situation had improved.
On hearing about the incident, security forces rushed to the spot which ensued an encounter with the militants.
Soon after the incident, a mob gathered in the town and wanted to head towards Churachandpur but was stopped by security personnel, police said.
“Heavy exchange of fire between state forces and militants was going on at nearby Phougakchao and in the vicinity of Kwakta,” they said.
Amid the fresh incidents of violence, many houses of the Kuki community were also burnt down.
Meanwhile, relaxation of curfew timing was curtailed in Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur district to 10.30 am. Earlier, curfew was relaxed in these districts from 5 am to 6 pm.
The ethnic clashes first broke out on May 3 when Kukis held a protest march against a high court order recommending scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis.
Now , the ethnic tensions between the two communities have plunged the northeastern state into unending episodes of armed conflict.
With Agency inputs
