What Happened in Manipur? Woman Killed, Farmer Shot at!

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- A woman was killed amid rising tensions in Manipur.
- A farmer was shot in a separate but related incident.
- Ethnic violence between Kuki and Meitei communities continues to escalate.
- Security forces have been deployed to maintain order.
- The Kuki Women Organisation has condemned the violence.
Imphal, June 19 (NationPress) A woman has tragically lost her life and a farmer has been shot in distinct incidents occurring in Manipur on Thursday, as reported by officials.
According to the police, the farmer, known as Ningthoujam Biren, was shot after being hit by a bullet allegedly fired by suspected Kuki militants in Phubala village, situated in Bishnupur district, on Wednesday.
In response to this incident, security forces promptly arrived at the location and reportedly fired towards the nearby hills in Churachandpur district. Following this, a woman named Hoikholhing Haokip, who belonged to the Kuki tribal community and was the wife of the Langchingmanbi Village chief, was killed.
The identity of the individual responsible for the woman's death remains uncertain. The police have stated that her body will be transported to the Churachandpur district headquarters tonight. Tensions have escalated in both Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts, prompting the deployment of additional security forces to mitigate the unrest.
The initial incident occurred when Ningthoujam Biren, along with two other farmers from the Meitei community, was engaged in work on a paddy field near the boundary with Churachandpur district.
Afterward, the farmer, currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital, informed the police that he heard approximately five rounds of gunfire originating from the adjacent hills, causing immediate panic among those present in the paddy field.
The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) has issued a statement vehemently condemning the “brutal and cold-blooded” killing of Hoikholhing Haokip, the wife of Khaikhogin Haokip, the village chief of Langchingmanbi, who was also shot dead by militants on Thursday evening.
“This horrific incident is yet another grim reminder of the ongoing ethnic cleansing and targeted violence against the Kuki people. Despite the establishment of a government-declared buffer zone designed to prevent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, militants have consistently breached this boundary, escalating tensions and directly threatening the lives of innocent civilians,” the statement emphasized.
On June 15, unrest ignited in Manipur’s Imphal East district regarding a conflict over paddy field cultivation and land ownership, but the situation was calmed with the reinforcement of additional security forces.
A police spokesperson indicated that a farmer from the Meitei community from the Leitanpokpi area attempted to plough a paddy field in Sadu Lampak village in Imphal East, close to a village inhabited by Kuki tribespeople.
“Some Kuki villagers nearby intervened, claiming that the paddy field did not belong to the Meitei community farmer. Concurrently, some individuals from the Meitei community who were also present arrived at the location. Various videos circulated depicting Kukis attempting to prevent Meitei farmers,” the official recounted.
Central and state security forces, led by senior officials, quickly responded to the situation, restoring order.