30 hurt in clash between Kukis and Zomis
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 19 2023: Around 30 persons sustained injuries in a clash between Zomi and Kuki communities at Thingkangphai village and Sielmat Bridge of Churachandpur district last night.

Considering the highly volatile and tense situation, District Magistrate, Chura-chandpur has imposed prohibitions under CrPC 144 and banned internet service in the entire district for five days.

A violent clash broke out between two groups of people belonging to Kuki and Zomi communities at around 9.30 pm yesterday when a group of people belonging to the Zomi community came to Thingkangphai village and tried to inscribe 'Zoland' on one of the memorial stones and attempted to hoist their Zomi flag, sources informed.

30 hurt in clash between Kukis and Zomis

Scroll.in reports a Central security official posted in Manipur, who did not wish to be identified, stating that there was a "clamour for credit".

One group wanted the mass burial site to be named as the "Kuki-Zo martyrs cemetery".

The other wanted the name to include "Kuki-Zomi-Mizo-Hmar" .

"Curfew has been imposed and the situation is under control now and there have been few minor injuries," the official said.

Soon, a large number of people belonging to the Kuki community arrived at the area and prevented the Zomi people from hoisting their flag and inscribing 'Zoland' on the memorial stone.

This was followed by a heated argument between the two groups.

After a gap of some minutes, a large number of people belonging to the Zomi community stormed the residence of Thing-kangphai village chief and shouted various slogans in the area.

On getting information about storming the Thingkangphai village chief's house, another large group of people belonging to Kuki community who reside in the northern side of Thingkangphai village (Tuibong side) rushed to the spot and a heavy confrontation broke out between the two groups.

Two individuals belonging to Kuki community and four from Zomi community sustained injuries in the confrontation and they were taken to Churachandpur district hospital.

Soon after the incident, a large number of police personnel of Churachandpur district police and RAF personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Later at around 11 pm, two groups of people belonging to Kuki and Zomi communities once again started pelting stones toward each other at Sielmat Bridge located in between Zomi and Kuki villages.

To bring the situation under control, police and RAF personnel fired several rounds of tear gas shells and mock bombs in both directions.

It took more than one hour for police and RAF to bring the situation at Sielmat Bridge under control.

The security forces were able to disperse the two groups of people only after midnight.

During the confrontation at Sielmat Bridge, around 22 more persons from both sides sustained injuries and were admitted in Churachandpur district hospital for treatment, said the sources.

To prevent any further unwanted incidents, a large number of security personnel and Central armed forces have been deployed in the areas adjoining Kuki and Zomi villages, added the sources.

On the other hand, The Indian Express reports that the Eimi Youths, which identifies itself as an organisation for "justice in the midst of current impasse", said in a press release, "We, members of Eimi Youths, are shocked to find that the tribal martyrs' burial site will be named Kuki-Zomi-Mizo-Hmar, as proposed by the Joint Philanthropic Organisation." The organisation said it "fully endorses" the addition of three identities in the nomenclature � Kuki, Zomi and Mizo.

However, no particular tribe should be highlighted along with the other three tribes, it said.

"It is our fervent appeal to rethink the proposed name of the burial site, failing which a total shutdown will be imposed by all youths who wish to oppose the inclusion of a particular tribe in the proposed burial site," the release said.