4 dead in a fresh bout of violence in Manipur, curfew reimposed in Thoubal and districts of Imphal West

The Manipur government on Monday reimposed a curfew in Thoubal and Imphal West districts following a fresh spate of violence in the northeastern state. 

As per reports clashes broke out between unidentified armed miscreants and residents of the Lilong area of Thoubal district on Monday evening. Police have confirmed four casualties in the clashes, the bodies of the deceased are yet to be recovered. 

"I express my immense sadness over the killing of innocent people. We have mobilised police teams to catch the culprits. I fold my hands and appeal to the residents of Lilong to help the government in finding the culprits. I promise that the government will do everything in its power to give justice under the law," said Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, in a video message appealing to the masses to maintain law and order. 

The Chief Minister has called for an urgent meeting of all the ruling party MLAs, to acess and take necessary steps to control the fresh flare up. A curfew has been reimposed in Thoubal, Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching and Bishnupur districts to avoid any further untoward escalations. 

This fresh spate of violence was preceeded by a gunfight between unidentified miscreants and police commandos in Manipur's Moreh, injuring at least 4 from the security forces on Saturday. Moreover, a village guard was also gunned down in Kadangband on the same day. 

Manipur has been grappling with the vagaries of brute violence since May 2023. The ethnic clashes have claimed at least 180 lives, injured several thousands, and displaced over 60,000.

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