Manipur Cleric Killings: Shutdown Hits Tribal Areas, Tension High

A police official said that there was no fresh incident in the two mountainous districts, inhabited largely by tribal communities, since Wednesday night, even as security forces maintained a high vigil in the region and adjoining areas.

Normal life was badly affected after the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), one of the apex bodies of the Kuki community in the state, called for a three-day total shutdown across all Kuki-Zo inhabited areas following the killing of three Baptist Church leaders in Kangpokpi.

All business establishments, government offices, private institutions, educational institutions, and vehicular movement remained shut due to the shutdown call.

However, essential services, including airport operations, medical facilities, fire and emergency services, and other humanitarian services, were exempted from the shutdown.

The KIM also announced a two-day nationwide mourning by the Kuki-Zo community in honour of the deceased Church leaders.

According to a police official in Imphal, unidentified armed men ambushed two vehicles along Tiger Road in the mountainous Kangpokpi on Wednesday morning, killing three persons, all belonging to the Kuki community, on the spot and injuring four others.

The Kuki Students' Organisation stated that all the victims were Baptist Church leaders from the Kuki community.

Hours after the Kangpokpi attack, another ambush took place near the Joujangtek Forest Gate in Noney on Wednesday evening.

A police official said a man and his wife, belonging to the Chiru Naga community, were returning home from Imphal in a car when unidentified armed attackers reportedly opened fire on their vehicle near Joujangtek under Khoupum Police Station. One person was killed in the incident.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Deputy Chief Ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Yumnam Joykumar Singh, along with over a dozen organisations representing different communities, condemned both incidents of violence.

Meanwhile, security forces, during joint operations, arrested seven militants belonging to various banned outfits, including a top leader, from Imphal West and Imphal East districts. Security personnel arrested the self-styled founder Chairman and five active cadres of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) from the Langol area under the Lamphel police station in Imphal West district.

The arrested KCP founder Chairman was identified as Laishram Ranjit Singh, 52, alias Tamnganba, alias Apik, alias Loya, who had reportedly been absconding for a long time.

Manipur Police also arrested an active cadre of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), identified as Hidangmayum Benerjit Sharma (24), alias Manja, from the Lilong Chajing area. He is accused of a bomb explosion FIR registered at Irilbung police station in Imphal East district. Police recovered cash amounting to Rs 32,500, three mobile phones, Aadhaar and UNLF identity cards, an unregistered car, and other materials from his possession.

The police official said intelligence-based combing, cordon, and search operations were being carried out extensively across various districts to apprehend those involved in kidnapping, extortion, and other unlawful activities in the state. Search operations and area domination exercises are also being conducted by Central and state security forces in fringe, mixed-population, and vulnerable areas across several Imphal Valley and hill districts.

- IANS