Hours after curfew was relaxed in a few districts, at least 15 people were injured in fresh violence that broke out in two villages in Manipur's Imphal West district. Two are critically injured, said the police.
According to police, suspected Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons and bombs attacked the villages.
State police and Manipur Rifles stationed at the two villages—Phayeng and Kangchup Chingkhong—opened fire and retaliated. The clash between the militants and security forces lasted for over four hours on Friday night. Police officials said that the militants were pushed back to the hills.
Those injured have been admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and Raj Medicity in Imphal.
Fresh attacks were also reported from parts of Pombikhok in the Bishnupur district. However, no causalities were reported.
Meanwhile, the team of Manipur Police, Border Security Force and Assam Rifles recovered seven bodies from the Sugnu-Serou area in Kakching district. Police said that they were killed in the gunfight that broke out last week at Sugnu. Armed Kuki militants were suspected behind the fight.
Over 90 people have lost their lives in the ethnic clashes that broke out in the state about a month ago. The statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that a total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps.
Police on Friday had said that after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's appeal to surrender weapons, a total of 140 weapons were surrendered. The surrendered weapons included self-loading rifles, carbine, AK and INSAS rifles, light machine guns, pistols, M16 rifles, smoke gun/tear gas, sten gun and grenade launcher.
Shah, who was on a four-day visit to the state, also warned of strict action against those found in possession of weapon's during the police's search operations.
A judicial probe headed by a retired high court chief justice was announced by Shah in Manipur. He also said that the peace committee under the Governor of Manipur Anusuiya Uikey will comprise representatives of all political parties and the warring Kuki and Meitei communities.
It was on May 3, the clashes broke out in the state after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Over 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles have been deployed to bring back peace in the state.
