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3 killed in Manipur's Bishnupur district; father-son duo gunned down in their sleep
Three killed in fresh violence in Manipur's Bishnupur district; father-son duo gunned down by militants.
At least three people died in fresh violence in Manipur's Bishnupur district late Friday night, according to multiple news reports. The deceased include a father-son duo who were gunned down in their sleep and later slashed with swords by militants. The incident occurred at around 3am when victims were sleeping at their houses under Phougakchao Ikhai police station limits in Kwakta town of Bishnupur district.
"The three used to stay in a relief camp but had moved to their residences in Kwakta on Friday after the situation had improved," PTI quoted police as saying.
On hearing about the incident, security forces rushed to the spot which ensued an encounter with the militants.
Soon after the incident, a mob gathered in the town and wanted to head towards Churachandpur but was stopped by security personnel, police said.
"Heavy exchange of fire between state forces and militants was going on at nearby Phougakchao and in the vicinity of Kwakta," they said.
Manipur has been rocked by ethnic clashes after the violence first broke out on May 3 when Kukis held a protest march against a high court order recommending scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis. The ethnic tensions between the two communities have plunged the northeastern state into unending episodes of armed conflict.
Earlier this week, a large cache of arms and ammunition was looted from an armoury. An annexure listing the arms and ammunition showed that arms and ammunition included 19,000 rounds of ammunition, 1 AK series assault rifle, 25 INSAS rifles, 4 Ghatak rifles, 5 INSAS light machine guns, 5 MP-5 rifles, 124 hand grenades, 21 SMC carbines, 195 SLR rifles, and 16 9-mm pistols.
While the ethnic clashes have now been going on for three months, Manipur drew renewed national attention last month after a video of two Kuki women being paraded naked by a mob went viral on social media.
(With PTI inputs)
