Shootings and arson continued Monday in India’s northeastern state of Manipur. The previous day , five people were killed in clashes between security forces and tribal insurgents.

The fresh violence took place, even after Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in the state capital, Imphal on Monday evening, to review the security situation and help restore peace in the state after the ethnic clashes occurred in the past 26 days.

While a tentative calm has been restored in Manipur, sporadic incidents of violence have broken out in the state since curfew has been imposed, and internet services suspended for 26 days. The ethnic violence that unfolded between the minority tribals and majority Meiteis of Manipur on May 3 2023, is one of the deadliest conflicts since the state attained statehood in 1972.

Manipur, which borders Myanmar, has been roiled by violence for weeks after members of mostly Christian tribal groups clashed with the Hindu majority over its demands for special economic benefits.

On Sunday, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh told reporters at least 40 persons had been killed in a crackdown by security forces, a day before the Union Home Minister’s visit. Two police had also been killed in the past two days of unrest, he added

“The terrorists have been using M-16 and AK-47 assault rifles and sniper guns against civilians. They came to many villages to burn down homes,” local media quoted Singh as saying.

“We have started taking very strong action against them with the help of the army and other security forces. We have got reports that some 40 terrorists have been shot dead,” Singh was quoted as saying.

At least 25 miscreants with arms, ammunition, and grenades have been rounded up by Indian Army and para-military forces across ethnic-strife-riven Manipur, officials said on Monday.

Acting on inputs from Central intelligence about a “plot to attack security forces around Imphal East District”, Indian Army on Sunday set up Mobile Vehicle Check Posts (MVCP) in the area. They apprehended three armed miscreants at New Checkon in Manipur’s Imphal East District.

In a tense and escalating situation, a fierce gunfight broke out between the Arambai Tenggol militants and the 37 Assam Rifles column in Manipur, as confirmed by sources. The clash, which involved surrendered Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIG) militants, has put the region on high alert.

The surrendered VBIG militants have now reportedly joined forces under the banner of Arambai Tenggol. It was once believed to be a peaceful transition, but has taken a violent turn as these militants, armed with weapons allegedly provided by state Meitei commandos, engage in a confrontation with the 37 Assam Rifles.

According to reports, the surrender of over 500 militants last year was seen as a step towards peace and integration into non-SoO (Suspension of Operations) groups.

However, to the surprise of many, a significant portion of these surrendered militants later joined the ranks of Arambai Tenggol, leading to the current clash against the security forces.

Further updates on the ongoing confrontation between the Arambai Tenggol militants and the 37 Assam Rifles are awaited.

Two conglomerate organisations representing the Kuki militants, United People's Front and Kuki National Organization extended Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Govt of India for another 12 months. The extension will come into effect from March 1st till Feb 29, 2024.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on Sunday urged the central government for swift imposition of President’s Rule in the north eastern state sacking the N. Biren Singh led Government.

While Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups were in their designated camps, a handful of single barrels and the licensed guns used by the poor tribal villagers to defend their villages were confiscated by the central paramilitary forces. This, say locals, has left them helpless, or “left to die at the hands of Meitei radicals”.

“The security forces, at present, have reportedly started ‘Combing Operations’ in tribal villages after allowing looting of arms and ammunition from 7 MR, 8 IRB, 3 IRB, Manipur Police Training College and 9 MR”, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) alleged.

The ITLF pointed out that the injuries suffered by the village volunteers indicated the use of sophisticated weapons looted by the radical groups.

“Five civilians were reportedly killed in what appears to be a coordinated attack launched by suspected Kuki militants during the wee hours of Sunday in the adjoining parts of Imphal that is still continuing while filing this report. At least one Manipur police commando, four suspected Kuki militants (as per reliable sources)”, the ‘Ukhrul Times’ reported.

Early on Sunday morning, a Manipur police commando was shot dead while another was injured between Sugnu and Seour near Kakching district. The State police commando identified as ASI Thokchom Kiran (47) succumbed to his injuries at Raj Medicity, according to sources.

The far-flung states of northeast India – sandwiched between Bangladesh, China and Myanmar – have long been a tinderbox of tensions between different ethnic groups.

New Delhi rushed thousands of paramilitary and army troops to the state of 3.2 million people. It imposed a curfew after fighting erupted between the majority Meitei, who are mostly Hindus and live in and around the state capital Imphal, and the mainly Christian Kuki tribe from the surrounding hills.

A statement was also issued by the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk as he marked 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN initiative ‘Human Rights 75’, which he launched in December last year.

As the ongoing conflict in Manipur continues to simmer, the woes of the internally displaced persons crosses 8,000-mark and are currently sheltered in nine districts of Mizoram increasing the tribals arriving each day from the violent-hit neighbouring state following the conflict.

The Mizoram Government has so far despatched 2,156 quintals of food grains to Manipur's Lamka town in Churachandpur district which has a scarcity of rations. Various branches of Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Mizoram capital’s Aizawl area have so far contributed around ₹21,44,76900 for relief and rehabilitation of Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar communities.

Over 75 people have been killed in the fighting and hundreds have been injured and more than 35,000 have been displaced. Over 200 churches have been destroyed, looted and burnt down so far.

Jon Suante is a freelance journalist from Manipur.

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