Around 40 armed militants involved in torching houses and firing at civilians in Manipur have been killed by security agencies during their operation to bring peace to the strife-torn state, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Saturday. Addressing the media in Imphal, Singh said that a few of the militants have also been arrested.
The chief minister said there had been cases of armed militants firing at civilians with AK-47s, M-16 and sniper rifles, prompting the security forces to launch counetr attack.
“In retaliatory and defensive operations against these terrorist groups who are using sophisticated arms against the civilian population, around 40 of these terrorists have been killed in different areas. A few have also been arrested by the security forces,” he said.
Meanwhile, police said on Saturday that two persons were killed and 12 others injured in different instances of firing upon civilians and clashes between militants and security forces. They said the latest clashes began after the army commenced combing operations to de-arm communities in order to bring peace.
“According to our information, firing has been reported from Sugnu in Kakching, Kangvi in Churachandpur, Kangchup in Imphal West, Sagolmang in Imphal East, Nungoipokpi in Bishenpur, Khurkhul in Imphal West and YKPI in Kangpokpi,” police said.
The chief minister claimed during his media interaction that the latest round of conflict is not between communities but between militants and security forces.
Earlier in the day, Army Chief General Manoj Pande met the chief minister and discussed the current security situation in Manipur. Ethnic clashes which have claimed over 75 lives first broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.
