Ethnic violence triggered by majority Meitei and minority Kuki fighting over land and influence since May last year has claimed over 200 lives and displaced at least 60,000 people so far, according to government figures.
Amid New Year celebrations, Manipur's Kadangband area in Imphal West district witnessed a fresh attack in the early hours of Jan 1, police said.
Suspected militants fired several rounds from sophisticated arms and hurled bombs from their hill positions in Kangpokpi district at the low-lying Kadangband area in Imphal West district around 1 am, a police officer was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Village volunteers deployed in the area returned the fire even as additional security forces were rushed to the area to control the situation. No injuries were reported in the firing, the police said.
The attack forced several villagers living in Kutcha homes to flee to safer places, they said.
Meanwhile, on the last day of the year, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh expressed “regret” and “apologized” for the ethnic strife that has gripped the state since May 2023, leaving at least 258 dead and thousands homeless.
“This entire year has been very unfortunate. I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what’s happening till today since last May 3,” Singh told reporters.
“Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes. I really regret it. I would like to apologize to all the victims. But now, I hope, after seeing the last three months’ progress towards peace, I hope with the coming of the new year, 2025, normalcy and peace will be restored in the state,” he said.
“And I want to appeal to all the communities in the state — whatever happened has happened. We have to forgive and forget the past mistakes and we have to start a new life, a peaceful Manipur, a prosperous Manipur. Living with all recognized 34-35 tribes together, and we should live together in future too,” he said.
Singh’s comments come a little over a month after Manipur witnessed one of its worst incidents of violence, and the biggest challenge yet to his leadership.
In 11 days starting Nov 7, at least 22 people were killed in different episodes in the state with the most violent being a Nov 11 attack on a relief camp in Jiribam in which eight Meitei residents were abducted and killed, and 10 assailants gunned down by security forces.
Pertinently, the Kadangband area has witnessed several attacks by suspected militants since violence broke out in the state in May 2023.
IIM Calcutta and Emeritus launch executive program on strategic marketing using AI
Karnataka govt mandates CCTV installation in all educational institutions
Odisha trains over 100 school heads at IIM Ahmedabad to curb dropout rates
Manipur Governor reviews progress of flagship teacher training scheme
What is 'Naked Resignation'? Professionals forge a new path beyond the paycheck
India’s Shubhanshu Shukla joins pioneering space study to unlock diabetes care beyond Earth
RBI flags limited policy room after 50 bps rate cut, signals cautious road ahead
Bollywood icon Jeetendra sells 2.3-acre Mumbai Andheri land for ₹855 crore to tech giant
PM Modi opens world’s highest rail bridge, flags off Kashmir’s first Vande Bharat
SC pushes NEET PG to August 3, orders single-shift exam to restore fairness
IIM Calcutta and Emeritus launch executive program on strategic marketing using AI
Karnataka govt mandates CCTV installation in all educational institutions
Odisha trains over 100 school heads at IIM Ahmedabad to curb dropout rates
Manipur Governor reviews progress of flagship teacher training scheme
What is 'Naked Resignation'? Professionals forge a new path beyond the paycheck
India’s Shubhanshu Shukla joins pioneering space study to unlock diabetes care beyond Earth
RBI flags limited policy room after 50 bps rate cut, signals cautious road ahead
Bollywood icon Jeetendra sells 2.3-acre Mumbai Andheri land for ₹855 crore to tech giant
PM Modi opens world’s highest rail bridge, flags off Kashmir’s first Vande Bharat
SC pushes NEET PG to August 3, orders single-shift exam to restore fairness
Copyright© educationpost.in 2024 All Rights Reserved.
Designed and Developed by @Pyndertech