Kuki singer among three killed in firing in 24-hours along 'buffer zone' dividing Manipur's hills and the valley

A Kuki singer, who rose to fame for his "heart touching" song calling for unity of the Kuki-Zomi tribes, and two other "village volunteers" died and at least five others were injured in firing that continued along the "buffer zone" dividing Manipur's hills and the valley districts.

Sources said LS Mangboi Lhungdim, aged about 50, succumbed to injuries sustained in a "bomb attack" on Thursday morning while he was being taken to Aizawl, capital of neighbouring Mizoram, for airlifting to Guwahati for treatment. Mangboi and six others were injured in the exchange of firing that took place in Koirenntak area in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district on Wednesday.

Tense "buffer zone"

Two persons died, (one Kuki, one Meitei) and seven others were injured in the fresh firing that started along the "buffer zone" on Tuesday (August 29), hours before commencement of the one-day session of Manipur Assembly. Two IRB personnel were among those injured. The firing started in Naranseina area in Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district and this continued intermittently on Wednesday too. Defence sources said automatic weapons and mortars were being used by the "armed miscreants" in the fresh firing that spread to nearby areas in the hills.

The "buffer zone" divides the Kuki-dominated hill districts like Churachandpur and Meitei-dominated valley districts like Bishnupur. The "buffer zone" was created and forces, mainly central security forces, were deployed in order to prevent further escalation of the violence. But sporadic incidents of firing between "armed miscreants" belonging to both the communities have kept the region troubled and a cause of worry.

Sources in Imphal Valley said a few Meitei persons were also injured in the firing on Wednesday but the same could not be verified with the police.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a Kuki organisation, on Thursday evening said the death toll due to the firing since August 29 increased to four. The ITLF identified the two others, who died on Thursday, as Richard Hemkhoulun and Paokam Kipgen. Paokam died in the firing at Kangvai area at around 7.30pm, said ITLF. The ITLF imposed an "emergency shutdown" in Churachandpur saying that areas like Longphai, Khousabung, Kangvai and Sugnu were "under attack." Manipur government, in a statement, however, rejected the ITLF's claim about firing in those areas.

Popular singer

Mangboi, who ran a music studio in Churachandpur, became popular among the Kuki-Zomi people in Manipur and Mizoram amid the violence due to his song in Kuki language, "I Gam Hi Lo Ham?" or "Is this not our land?" and "Inthen Thei Kan Ni Lo," which means "We can not afford to be divided." The songs became popular as the Meiteis charged the Kukis as "illegal migrants" from Myanmar trying to "grab Manipur's land."

Mangboi's death was condemned by many in Mizoram too. "His songs are heart touching. And probably the Meitei miscreants targeted him as his songs helped in the unity of the Kuki-Zomi people during this hour of crisis, not only in Manipur but also in Mizoram," a Kuki student leader told DH.

More than 170 people have died and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the violence between the Meiteis and the Kukis since May 3.