Two killed, seven injured in fresh firing in Manipur's Bishnupur district

Two persons were killed and seven others were injured in fresh firing between "armed miscreants" in Bishnupur district of Manipur on Tuesday.

A statement issued by Manipur police on Tuesday evening said that the situation in the state remained tense with sporadic incidents of firing and congregation of protesters reported from some places.

Sources said firing started in the morning at Naranseina village in the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district situated close to the buffer zone that separates the Kuki-dominated hills from the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley. Two Meitei farmers were the first who were injured in the firing by suspected Kuki insurgents. They were rushed to a private hospital in Imphal. More firing was reported later in the surrounding areas in which at least six Meitei "village volunteers" sustained bullet wounds, sources said. The "village volunteers" are youths trying to guard their villages against possible attacks.

Police said two of them succumbed to their injuries while seven others were admitted to hospitals with bullet wounds. "District police, Assam Rifles, Army and central paramilitary forces deployed in the area responded and brought the situation under control," said the police statement.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a Kuki organisation, said a Kuki "village volunteer," who was shot at by Manipur police commandos in the Khoirentak area at around 10 am died later. The ITLF identified the victim as Jangminlun Gangte, aged about 30. The identity of the second deceased was not revealed.

The fresh firing took place hours before the Manipur Assembly convened for the one-day session, the first session since the violence started nearly four months ago. The session, however, had to be curtailed as the Opposition Congress created a ruckus with a demand for extending the session to five days.

More than 160 people have died and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the violence between the Meiteis and the Kukis since May 3. Security forces created a buffer zone between the hills and the valley in order to prevent further escalation but sporadic incidents of firing have kept the state troubled.