Ex-Havildar lynched, chief murdered as Manipur boils over again | India News – Times of India

GUWAHATI: Hundreds of angry students clashed with police in Imphal on Monday after a retired havildar and a woman were killed the night before, sparking renewed violence that has claimed 11 lives since September 1.
The unrest in the state escalated into large-scale protests, shifting the epicentre of violence to Manipur. Raj Bhavan Students demanded action against those responsible and demanded the resignation of top officials.
Police fired tear gas canisters, causing several injuries. Protesters responded with rocks, resulting in injuries to officers and security personnel.
A security source confirmed that the body of ex-havildar Limkholal Mate, of Motbung in Kangpokpi district, was found in Sekmai, Imphal West. It was suspected that he had been beaten to death. Nengjakhol Haokip (50) was killed by shrapnel in an arson attack in Thank you village of Kangpokpi, prompting CRPF personnel to retaliate.
Protests erupt in 3 districts of Manipur
The retired havildar had only entered Sekmai on Sunday evening. Haokip’s village, Thangbuh, was partially burned in an attack.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the Manipur government ordered schools and colleges to close for Monday and Tuesday. However, students defied the closure and marched to Raj Bhavan, raising slogans such as “Long Live Manipur” and “resign all incompetent MLAs” while demanding peace.
With a banner that said: “Save Manipur because we are Indians, otherwise leave Manipur alone,” the protesters called for the resignation of the DGP and the state security advisor. They also demanded that the control of the unified command be transferred from the home ministry to the CM and called for the immediate removal of Assam Rifles and other central forces from Manipur. The students also urged the 50 non-Kuki-Zo MLAs to take a stand or resign.
Similar protests broke out in Thoubal district and thousands of residents of Kakching district held a mass demonstration against the recent civilian killings.
During the ongoing conflict, armed drones and long-range missiles are being used, only adding to the chaos.
Manipur police said cadres of militant groups, including those who signed “suspension of operations” agreements or peace accords with the Centre, were involved in the violence. They identified six bodies recovered after a gunfight between warring groups in Jiribam district.
Among the dead were Seiminlen Khongsai, Haogoulen Doungel and Nehboithang Haokip, all members of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), a group under the Kuki National Organisation, which had signed a peace deal with the government in 2008. A member of the Pambei faction of the United National Liberation Front, Baspatimayum Lakhi Kumar Sharma, was also among the dead.
Police identified the fifth body as that of village volunteer Lhunkhohao Haokip and the sixth as Yurembam Kulendra Singha (63), a citizen of Cachar district in Assam who resides in Jiribam.