Manipur Violence: Bodies of Two Men Placed Outside CM’s Residence
Two Meitei men allegedly killed by suspected militants; four injured and three missing as police fire tear gas to disperse protesters in Imphal.
Security personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters after locals brought the bodies of two men, allegedly killed by suspected militants, and placed them outside the official residence of Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh in Imphal on Monday.
The incident followed the alleged killing of two Meitei men who had gone to collect firewood in a forest near the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts, officials said.
The deceased were identified as Arubam Ronil (35) and Lairenlakpam Inaobi (51). They were among a group of 16 people who went to the hills near their village around 7 am when they were allegedly ambushed by suspected militants at Khongbal Sunurok Uyok in Kangpokpi district, a few metres from Nongshum village in Imphal East.
Four other people were injured in the firing, while three persons remained missing, officials said. One of the injured, identified as Ksh Deven, was in a serious condition.
Angry locals brought the bodies to Imphal and placed them outside the main gate of the chief minister’s residence in Babupara to protest the killings and the continuing violence in the state.
Security personnel deployed outside the bungalow were taken by surprise by the arrival of the bodies and resorted to firing several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. The bodies were subsequently taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) for further procedures.
It was not immediately known whether Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh was present at the residence during the protest. The latest incident comes amid continuing ethnic tensions and violence in Manipur, which has witnessed prolonged unrest since May 2023.