A chronological report on Manipur violence 2023 from May 3
- Part 3 -

Takhellambam Geetchandra Meitei *

1st June 2023 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted a press conference at Chief Minister’s Secretariat Imphal in the presence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Union MoS for Home Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Kumar Deka, Security Advisor to Government of Manipur Kuldiep Singh and BJP National spokesperson Sambit Patra.

Shah informed “the reason of the violence is the consequence of High Court order, rioters advised to hand over snatched firearms, strict action against SoO violators, the retired Chief Justice of High Court will head the investigation of violence, peace committee will be constituted headed by Governor, Kuldiep Singh will be in-charge of Inter-Agency Unified Command, Central & State Govt. will provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh (5 each by the Centre & State) for the deceased persons”.

2nd June 2023 : Security forces picked up and deposited the mortal remains of seven persons who were reportedly killed in the arson and gun fights which broke out at Sugnu-Serou in the last week of May at the JNIMS mortuary. The death body count 98 till today. After the strong call by Home Minister 144 firearms and 11 magazines from Imphal East, Imphal West, Tengnoupal and Thoubal were surrendered to the Government.

Unknown miscreants torched the villages namely L Chayang, S Pheilengkot, Chingdai Khullen, C Zoulen, Thingjang, Lhanghoi, Moljang under Kangpokpi district. The attacks upon the Meitei villages continue at Kangchup Chingkhong Village, Kadangband Part I, Singda, Haraothel, Koutruk, Imphal West District by suspected Kuki militants. Heavily armed groups suspected to be Kuki militants attacked Pombikhok, Bishnupur district.

Meanwhile, MLA of Kumbi S Premchandra asserted “If the Kuki militants continue their offensive, I will forget that I am an MLA and do everything to save innocent people”. A strong confrontation between State Police forces and 37 Assam Rifles at Sugnu, Kakching District after the Assam Rifles parked their Camper vehicle in front of the Sugnu Police Station and SDPO Office gates blocking the road completely. Later, an FIR was registered against 37 AR team led by its CO for wrongful confinement of the staff and commandos stationed at Sugnu PS and SDPO Office, and other various sections of IPC.

3rd June 2023 : After Home Minister left Manipur following his wait for 15 days assurance in Churachandpur, the 10 Naga MLAs of Manipur were summoned to New Delhi to meet Home Minister. Armed groups suspected to be Kuki militants burnt one Saw Mill and a Chicken Farm located at Phayeng Awang Kangchup Chingkhong, Imphal West District.

A team of MLAs led by Power Minister Th Biswajit met the displaced persons taking shelter in Relief Camps opened at Moirangpurel Panam Higher Secondary School, Andro Machengpat Primary School, Andro Higher Secondary School, Ramanand High School Angtha, Yambem High School. Fresh firing attacked at Pombikhok, Bihsnupur District by suspected Kuki militants. Decrying the unethical conduct of the Assam Rifles at the gate of Sugnu Police Station, many civil organisations, meira paibis demand withdrawal of Assam Rifles from the State. The sports persons of the State took out peace rally at Khuman Lampak, Imphal.

4th June 2023 : The Centre set up a commission of Inquiry, headed by former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba to probe the series violence in Manipur. A large number of Armed Kuki militants burnt down 150 Meitei houses as Serou, Kakching District including the house of MLA K Ranjit at around 10.30 pm.

After the arson, a combined team of IRB, BSF and local villagers attacked & busted Nazareth Camp located at Sugnu. On the other hand, Kuki militants opened fired and started torching houses at Sengjam Chirang and Phayeng, Imphal West District. A young man, who was struck by bullets during the gun fight near Nazareth camp of SoO signatory outfit along Sugnu-Serou road on May 28, has been found alive after 7 days.

5th June 2023 : Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) opened National Highway no. 2, also known as the Trans Asian Highway no. 1 from today after a month long blockade in wide scale of violence. In fresh attack by suspected Kuki militants in Serou, Kakching district at least six persons including a woman and a BSF jawan suffered injuries and one feared killed.

On the other hand, three cilivians were killed and three others sustained bullet injuries when well armed Kuki militants attacked Kangchup Chingkhong Village, Imphal West District using sophisticated weapons. A person belongs to Nepali community suffered gun-shot in an attacked by Kuki militants at a location near Sekmai river between Imphal West and Kangpokpi Districts.

6th June 2023 : One BSF jawan who suffered bullet injury in an attack by Kuki militants at Serou, Kakching district on 5th June 2023 succumbed to the injuries. On the other hand, a combined team of State police, Assam Rifles and BSF exchanged heavy fire with well-armed Kuki militants in the adjoining area of Kaching and Chandel districts, during which 2 personnel of Assam Rifles sustained bullet wounds.

Amid the growing tension in the State, 10 Naga MLAs of Manipur meet Home Minister Amit Shah at New Delhi. Manipur Heli Services under Ministry of Home Affairs to launch Helicopter Service between Churachandpur and Imphal from 9th June, as per Government notification.

7th June 2023 : The Co-ordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCO-MI) an umbrella body of several societies of Manipur declared “War against Narco-terrorism” during the People’s Convention held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound, Imphal. A group of women belonging to Kuki community staged a protest outside the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh conducted press conference at CM Secretariat, Imphal informed “868 arms and 11518 ammunition recovered from various districts of State”.

8th June 2023 : Lone Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba submitted a memorandum to the Union Home Minister urging the abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) with Kuki militants and flush-out foreign narco terrorists from the soil of India to bring peace in Manipur. Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh stated “Centre approved Rs 101.75 crore relief package for displaced people of Manipur”.

Search operations conducted in Keithelmabi area, Sangaithel, Imphal West district and Haibung village, Lhongching village, Khoken village Kangpokpi district by a combined team of Assam Rifles and Manipur Police. The Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Satyabarta Singh stated “No immediate plan to convene Special Session of the Assembly” in the side-lines talk with media persons at Opening Relief Camp at Wangkhei Modern High School, Imphal. One person killed while another suffered injuries in a firing attacked by unknown miscreants at Heirok Part II Ngarouthel, Thoubal district.

9th June 2023 : The Naga MLAs of Manipur conducted Press Conference at Dimapur, Nagaland after meeting with Union Home Minister on 6th June 2023 at New Delhi, Minister Awangbow Newmai stated “we conveyed him clearly that in the event of any arrangement for separate administration (as demanded by Kuki MLAs), and our Naga areas should not be touched”.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a DIG rank officer to probe six cases of Manipur violence referred to it by the state government. At least 3 individuals were killed and 2 others injured in attacked by suspected Kuki militants at Sangaithel and Khoken Village in the adjoining of Imphal West and Kangpokpi Districts.

Assam Rifles seized a truck along with 350 no.s of ammunition in Champhai’s Zotlang area of Mizoram to be moving across the border towards Manipur.

To be continued...