In the wake of the ongoing unrest in Manipur, Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen P.C. Nair called for peace and said that the worst is behind in the state.
Though sporadic killings and shootings are happening in Manipur, the state is heading towards better times, he told PTI.
Over the last 72 hours, at least eight people were killed in Manipur’s Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts in the gunbattle between Kukis and Meiteis. Over 18 people got injured in the ongoing clashes in violence-hit state.
According to officials, firing was still ongoing in the foothills of Khoirentak in Bishnupur district and adjoining Chingphei and Khousabung areas in Churachandpur district.
Nair also said that the paramilitary force is unbiased and has destroyed bunkers, seized weapons and rescued innocent people from both sides.
"We are not biased and I want to make that absolutely clear. If we see bunkers we destroy them. The weapons we recovered from both the communities are equal, the number of people that we have helped from from both the communities is also equal, the Assam Riffles chief told PTI.
A fresh round of firing between the two groups started on Thursday morning, said officials.
Out of the five persons who sustained splinter injuries at Chingphei area on Wednesday evening, three were taken to Churachandpur district hospital.
An emergency shutdown was called by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in Churachandpur.
ITLF also claimed that the victims in the firing incident included singer L.S. Mangboi Lhungdim (50), who had composed a song after ethnic violence broke out on May 3 in Manipur.
"Militants have lately been pounding tribal areas with mortar shells stolen from police stations and armouries, and this is leading to high tribal casualties. The ITLF once again urges the government and security forces to prioritise the retrieval of looted weapons from the Meitei community," the statement said.
"These unending attacks are clearly a ploy to derail political talks between tribal SoO groups and the central government. The latest round of talks was held on Thursday and will continue on Friday," the statement added.
In the wake of the clashes, search operations were conducted by security forces in many areas including Kangpokpi, Thoubal, Churachandpur, and Imphal-West districts.
Arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered by the police.
So far, over 160 people have lost their lives since the ethnic violence broke out in the state.
