Guwahati/New Delhi
As many as three people, including a woman, were killed and two others injured in Khoken village in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Friday (June 9) when a group of suspected Meitei insurgents dressed as security personnel called them out of their homes on the pretext of a combing operation and fired at them.
The incident took place in the village on the border of Kangpoki and Imphal West districts. Security forces on a routine patrol of the village stepped in when they heard the sound of gunfire. Insurgents fled the area but not before shooting down three villagers.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) accused the Meitei community for the killing and said that this attack is yet another example of the utter disregard shown by the militants and demanded swift action should be taken against the perpetrators.
“The incident also violated the peace process called by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. We urge upon the authorities to take decisive actions against the militants,” the ITLF said in a statement. It said that one of the victims, Domkhohoi, was shot dead inside a church when she was in early morning prayer.
Also, in another incident, unidentified miscreants in a motorcycle threw a bomb in front of the gate of BJP MLA, Soraisam Kebi at Singjamei area in Imphal West, a Meitei-dominated district. There was no major harm in the incident, police said.
The death toll in the unabated violence since May 3 has crossed 100 while more than 300 persons have been injured.
For its part, the CBI has formed a special investigation team (SIT) under a DIG-rank officer to probe six Manipur violence cases referred to it by the Biren Singh government.
During his visit to the northeastern state, Home Minister Amit Shah had announced a CBI probe to investigate six FIRs — five on alleged criminal conspiracy and one on general conspiracy behind the violence in Manipur.
Acting on a reference from the state routed through the Centre, the CBI has formed the SIT and taken over the investigation in the cases, officials said.
Violence broke out in the northeastern state 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.
