Phubala firing: Meeting held, crime spot inspected
Source: Chronicle News Service

Bishnupur, June 20 2025: In the wake of the Thursday firing allegedly by Kuki militants which injured a farmer while ploughing his field near the Phubala Maning High Canal, a public meeting was held on Friday at Phubala Bazar.

The meeting attended by All Manipur Progressive Farmers' Association president K Thoiba, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba, co-convenors YK Dhiren and Y Surjit Khuman, meira paibi leaders and representatives of the district administration resolved to prevent such incidents in the future.

Speaking at the meeting, district officials affirmed that as farming is the main source of livelihood in the district, efforts would be made to ensure proper security arrangements so that agricultural activities continue without any disturbance.

Injured farmer Biren

While assuring that detailed report on the Phubala firing incident would be submitted to the higher-ups, the officials also claimed that formal process would be initiated to replace the SSB personnel currently deployed in the area with another security force to avoid further issues.

They also pledged to strive for living up to the public's expectations, and sought the people's cooperation in fulfilling the same.

Further that the incident has already been reported to the Governor and the chief secretary, they advised the locals to submit a written memorandum so that appropriate actions could be taken.

An inquiry will be initiated, and any lapses in the system will be addressed accordingly, maintained the officials.

After the meeting, the officials visited the site where the Meetei farmer was shot at by Kuki militants and surveyed inspected the spot with representatives from the central forces.

Following the inspection, the officials also asserted those involved in the attack would be identified and punished within seven days.

Meanwhile, MP Dr Bimol Akoijam, who also visited the site, expressed concern over the incident and questioned possible involvement of the central government.

He alleged that the attack by Kuki militants on Meeteis during the President's Rule was being taken very seriously.

Later, following the inspection, another meeting was held at the Ibudhou Loktak Maru community hall in Phubala, during which several resolutions were adopted.

Among them was a call to the government to provide adequate security for farmers to ensure that agricultural activities can be carried out securely.

Mention may be made that a woman was killed and a farmer shot at in separate incidents in Churachandpur and Bishnupur district respectively on Thursday.

Farmer Biren, a cultivator from Phubala Awang Maning Leikai, was shot in his left arm while working in his paddy field at Phubala Maning.

Biren was initially taken to District Hospital in Bishnupur for medical treatment and later referred to the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) medical college and hospital in Imphal.

His condition is reported to be stable at present.

In response, security forces launched a search operation in and around Langchingmanbi, Heichanglok, and the western areas of Phubala village.

During the course of the operation, security forces came under fire from unknown armed attackers and the forces retaliated accordingly.

During the crossfire, one woman identified as Hoikholhing Haokip from Langchingmanbi village was found dead with a bullet injury.

The victim, who belonged to the Kuki tribal community, was the wife of the village chief of Langchingmanbi.

On June 15, tension erupted in Manipur's Imphal East district over a dispute related to the farming of a paddy field and the land ownership, but was defused with the deployment of additional security forces in the area.

In the Imphal East incident, a farmer, belonging to the Meetei community from Leitanpokpi areas, went with a tractor to plough a paddy field in Sadu Lampak village near a Kuki-inhabited village.

Informed sources said that as the agricultural season nears its peak, unresolved land access disputes and the lack of effective protection for farmers continue to deepen ethnic divides and fuel unrest in conflict-affected areas of Manipur.

The current Kharif season, also known as the monsoon season, runs from June to October.

Due to the ethnic violence in Manipur, the farming activities have been affected in both Imphal valley and hilly areas during the past more than two years.