Manipur witnesses fresh violence as suspected militants open fire at security forces in Imphal

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.