Imphal: Two people collecting firewood in a forest were allegedly killed by suspected militants in Manipur on Monday, triggering protests in Imphal, where locals placed the bodies outside the chief minister’s residence.
Four others were injured when suspected militants allegedly opened fire on a group of firewood collectors near the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts, officials said.
Three people remained missing after the incident at Khongbal Sunurok Uyok in Kangpokpi district, a few metres from Nongshum village in Imphal East, they said.
The deceased were identified as Arubam Ronil, 35, and Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 51. They were among 16 people who had gone into the hills near their village around 7 am to collect firewood when they were ambushed, officials said.
Angry locals brought the bodies to the state capital to protest the violence that has plagued Manipur since May 2023. They placed them outside the main gate of Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s residence in Babupara.
It was not immediately known whether the chief minister was present at the residence during the protest.
Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. The bodies were subsequently taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).
One of the injured, identified as Ksh Deven, was in a serious condition, officials said.
Clashes in Thoubal district; prohibitory orders imposed
At least one person was killed and several others were injured in clashes between two communities in Manipur’s Thoubal district, police said on Monday.
District authorities imposed prohibitory orders restricting people from leaving their homes in the two affected areas after several houses and vehicles were set on fire.
Tension escalated on Sunday night after a group of people allegedly began throwing stones at a nearby ground in Khangabok village, under Thoubal police station and around 25 km south of Imphal, where a concert was underway, police said.
The incident led to stone-pelting between members of 2 communities in Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham, followed by the burning of several houses and vehicles.
One person was shot in the head by unidentified miscreants and taken to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Police identified the deceased as Laishram Rakesh.
Several others were admitted to hospital with minor cut injuries sustained after being hit by stones, police said.
Additional state and central security forces were deployed in the 2 villages. The situation was under control on Monday morning, police said.
An order issued by the Thoubal district magistrate on Sunday night cited the likelihood of a breach of peace, disturbance of public tranquillity and imminent danger to human life and property due to the unlawful activities of some anti-social elements.
The magistrate directed residents of Khangabok and Sangaiyumpham not to leave their homes from 11 pm on Sunday, invoking Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The provision empowers authorities to issue temporary orders to prevent urgent threats and public disturbances. The order did not specify when the restrictions would end.
