Violence Erupts in Manipur: Man Shot Dead Amid Ongoing Tensions
Tragic Incident in Kangpokpi District
State police and Central Armed Police Forces had been deployed in Kanto Sabal, Imphal West district
Imphal, July 12: A 53-year-old individual was fatally shot by unidentified assailants while he was tending to his paddy field in the Kangpokpi district of Manipur on Saturday evening. This incident occurred as police apprehended two suspects linked to a separate case of attempted arson in the Imphal West district.
The victim has been identified as Haolal Singsit, who resided in Govajang village, located in the Kuki-majority area of Kangpokpi. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while his wife, Nemneikim Singsit, who was present with him, fortunately escaped unharmed.
Witnesses reported hearing approximately 20 gunshots around 4 PM. Security forces quickly arrived at the location and retrieved the body.
This incident highlights the precarious security conditions in Kangpokpi, which has been severely impacted by ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023.
The district was also the site of a recent tragedy involving the deaths of six Naga civilians, who were reportedly kidnapped from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13. Their bodies were discovered in Karam Vaiphei on June 10, sparking widespread public outrage.
In a related development, the Manipur Police detained two individuals for their alleged roles in Saturday's mob violence and the attempted arson of abandoned homes in Kanto Sabal, Imphal West district.
The suspects have been named as Kammang Lhouvum (65), the chief of Hengjang village and chairman of the Leimakhong Area Protection Committee (LAPC), and Pagin Hangshing (30), a resident of Khunkho Kuki village. The arrests were made during a coordinated operation involving the Manipur Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Rapid Action Force (RAF), and the Army, in connection with the mob violence and arson attempts.
Authorities are actively working to identify and apprehend additional individuals involved in the violence.
According to military sources, approximately 600 to 700 individuals attempted to march towards Kanto Sabal on Saturday afternoon, where another community had allegedly set up an "illegal block." The Army, in conjunction with the Manipur Police, intervened to separate the conflicting groups, averting a potential communal clash.
During the intervention, some individuals reportedly engaged in stone-throwing. Despite the provocations, security forces maintained restraint and managed to control the situation.
During this confrontation, some troublemakers allegedly tried to ignite abandoned houses, but their efforts were thwarted by the Army and police, preventing further destruction and ensuring no casualties occurred.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the violence, stating that it seemed to be an effort to disrupt the ongoing peace initiatives in the state. He remarked, "After a long period of tranquility, this appears to be an attempt by certain vested interests to undermine the peace process currently underway." He confirmed that personnel from the state police and Central Armed Police Forces had been deployed in the region and instructed security agencies to prevent such incidents from happening again.