Imphal: Renewed ethnic violence has erupted after a month-long hiatus, resulting in injuries to two village volunteers belonging to the Meitei community in the inter-districts of Thoubal and Tengnoupal of Manipur for the second consecutive day, officials said.
Armed individuals descended from the Pengang Kuki village hillslopes and initiated gunfire towards Ishingchaibi village, located approximately 12 km from Heirok in Thoubal district, Manipur, around 11 pm on Thursday, said an official.
An exchange of gunfire occurred between the volunteers of the two opposing groups, persisting until 9 am on Friday.
The gunfire exchanges took place in the adjoining villages of Heirok Ishigthingbi, Pengyang, Ingoulok, and Geljang, said an official.
Two Meitei Village Volunteers sustained bullet injuries, with one individual, identified as Ningthoujam Jamesh Singh (24) from Heirok part II Maning Leikai, Thoubal district, being critically injured. The injured were rushed to Raj Medicity Hospital in Imphal for treatment.
Upon receiving the information, state forces intervened in the affected areas. Reports suggest that intermittent exchanges of gunfire between state forces and armed individuals are underway.
Casualties on the opposing side are yet to be confirmed. The situation in these inter-districts remains tense, according to reports.
The violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities commenced on May 3, 2023, and has persistently continued, resulting in approximately 222 lives lost.