https://www.india.com/news/india/manipur-violence-woman-shot-dead-by-unidentified-gunmen-in-imphal-gunfire-reported-in-kangpokpi-6152003/Manipur Violence: Woman Shot Dead By unidentified gunmen in Imphal; Gunfire reported in Kangpokpi

The clashes first erupted on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organized in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

imphal: A woman was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside a school in Imphal West district, while occasional gunfire was reported in Kangpokpi district as violence continued in conflict-torn Manipur on Thursday.

According to officials, the woman was shot at by unknown gunmen in Kwakeithel Mayai Koibi below Lamphel police station, a day after the state government announced the opening of schools from grades 1 to grades 8 – nearly two months after clashes began in May this year. .

The PTI news agency quoted officials as saying that the victim had gone for some work near the school, but was not affiliated with any educational institution.

Intermittent gunfire was heard in a village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district early Thursday, hours after security forces foiled clashes when men armed with automatic weapons began attacking villagers, the report said, citing sources.

The incident occurred near Phaing village around 3:40 pm on Wednesday, they said.

Armed groups from nearby areas gathered in the area, escalating tensions, the sources said.

About 1,000 to 1,500 women blocked roads to prevent additional troops from reaching the area, they said. However, the situation was brought under control by the deployment of Assam Rifles personnel in the area.

In Churachandpur, about 100 km away, a large number of Kukis protested in a separate neighborhood on Wednesday. The rally started at Public Ground and continued to the Tuibong Peace Ground.

Nearly 4,000 people took part in the rally, most in “combat clothing” with camouflage on their faces, sources said.

No adverse incidents were reported during the meeting, which lasted until 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, after the woman’s murder in the Imphal West district, a tribal organization demanded the imposition of President’s Rule in the northeastern state.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) identified the woman as Donngaihching, a mentally ill person who lived on handouts from the local population.

“We once again urge the central government to relieve the impotent state government and immediately impose the rule of the president,” the ITLF said in a statement.

The Manipur Violence

The clashes first erupted on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organized in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Violent demonstrations erupted in the Torbung area of ​​Churachandpur district on May 3 during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ convened by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) to protest against the demand of non-tribal Meiteis, who Dominate Valley, for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Thousands took to the streets and joined the solidarity march that quickly turned violent as clashes erupted between tribes and non-tribes in the area, which soon spread to other districts.

After the clashes, the Indian army was called in to quell the raging violence, even as the state governor authorized firing on sight under extreme conditions.

More than 100 people have lost their lives and more than 3,000 were injured in the communal violence that has ravaged the hill state over the past two months.

In addition to the Manipur police, about 40,000 central security personnel have been deployed to contain the violence and restore normalcy to the state.

Meiteis represent about 53 percent of Manipur’s population and mainly live in the Imphal valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis make up another 40 percent of the population and live in the hill districts.

(with PTI inputs)