Jobaaj Stories
In a troubling turn of events, Manipur once again finds itself engulfed in violence as clashes between armed village volunteers and unidentified miscreants have left at least three people injured. The incidents occurred in the districts of Thoubal, Tengnoupal, and Kakching, casting a shadow over the upcoming Lok Sabha polls scheduled to take place in the state.
The violence erupted late Thursday evening in the peripheral areas of Heirok and Pallel, with unidentified gunmen opening fire towards Heirok village, prompting a retaliatory response from the village volunteers. As a result of the exchange, two village volunteers sustained injuries, highlighting the volatile nature of the situation.
Tensions increased on Friday as Heirok locals and village volunteers banded together to confront the gunmen. This resulted in heavy gunfire from both sides and the injury of another village volunteer. The rapid escalation of violence forced Manipur Police and other security forces, as well as commando units to step in and confront the attackers in an effort to reestablish order and protect civilian lives.
At the same time, in Pallel, armed bandits used arson to burn a sawmill in the Kakching district. As a result, three people were taken into custody and four firearms were seized by security personnel who carried out a comprehensive search operation. But anxiety nevertheless permeates the impacted regions in spite of these measures, heightening worries about the public's safety and security.
Furthermore, on May 3, 2018, a 'Tribal Solidarity March' opposing the Meitei community's quest for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation set off a series of ethnic attacks in Manipur. Over 100 people have died and tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the ongoing violence, which highlights the critical need for ongoing efforts to resolve the underlying issues and promote long-lasting peace and harmony in the area.
The threat of violence is still very much there in Manipur, so in order to prevent more deaths and create the conditions for a calm election process, authorities need to give priority to de-escalation measures and have productive talks with all parties involved.
The events taking place in Manipur are an alarming indication of how fragile peace is and how important it is for everyone to work together to protect the country's democratic foundation.
