1 killed as fresh violence breaks out in Manipur’s Churachandpur

Sources said that after a mob vandalised property, forces used teargas and fired live rounds in the air to control the situation, following which the militants took advantage of the darkness and opened fire.

It is significant that tension was escalating in the area since Monday after a leader of the Hmar community was allegedly assaulted by miscreants, prompting authorities to impose prohibitory orders in the district.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Zomi Students’ Federation called for the suspension of all activities, including closing down schools and colleges and shutting shops and business establishments, until the situation improved in the area.

The six Kuki-Zo legislators of the district also issued a joint statement appealing for maintaining peace. “Let us remember that we have been going through the most critical and difficult times in our history; and we have been fighting for our rights shoulder to shoulder as one. Let us also understand that our forefathers have taught us the spirit of resilience and that of forgiveness and peaceful resolution of any kind of conflicts through our customary laws. Let us all invoke these values, the Christian values of forgiveness to resolve the ongoing misunderstanding among us in the interest of our community and for posterity,” the statement said.

“We earnestly appeal to everyone in our community to uphold peace and harmony and solve any issues without giving a communal colour in order to build a cohesive, united and strong community,” it added.