DM Monitoring
New Delhi: Security forces and militants clashed for the second consecutive day in Manipur’s border town, Moreh, on Monday (January 8).
The exchange of fire has once again heightened tensions and caused panic among residents in the strife-torn state.
Moreh, situated along the Myanmar border, had been on high alert following a series of attacks by militants on security forces, particularly targeting Manipur police commandos.
The gunfire initially erupted late on Sunday, with a brief overnight lull before resuming between 8:15 am and 1:30 pm on Monday, the Hindustan Times reported.
The recent flare-up has led villagers to evacuate their homes, with reports indicating firing at multiple locations. “Monday’s firing happened at three places in New Moreh, Lhangkichoi and Zion Veng. Militants were posing as security forces and fired at the Kuki villages including mine. Around 200 villagers left their homes as soon as the firing started.
We are currently staying at a building in another part of the town. We have been told that firing has stopped but do not want to get caught in the crossfire so we are not returning,” said K. Minlun Touthang, chairman of unit 8 (New Moreh), Hill Tribal Council (HTC) of Moreh.
Security personnel engaged in a gunfight with militants on Sunday evening near Moreh Bazar, resulting in at least 10 injuries among the forces. However, no casualties were reported, the Hindustan Times report said.
The spokesperson for Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal, an umbrella group for Kukis in the district, accused Manipur police commandos of bias and involvement in the killing of Kuki-Zo tribals. The group demanded the replacement of state police forces with central paramilitary forces.
“The village volunteers are targeting the commando posts in Moreh because the Manipur police commandos are biased and are involved in killing of Kuki-Zo tribals. Many Meitei militant groups are also posing as commandos or security forces and attacking the Kuki villages,” Tengnoupal said.
A security force officer, aware of the details, confirmed the latest flare-up and claimed that as of Monday evening, “no one was injured”. In response to the escalating situation, Kuki women staged protests in Moreh and Kangpokpi on Monday, demanding the removal of Manipur police commandos from Kuki areas.
Village defense volunteers issued a warning for Manipur police to leave Moreh immediately, a demand supported by various groups, including Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal and HTC.
Chief minister Biren Singh expressed concerns about the possible involvement of mercenaries from Myanmar in the recent attacks. “We have doubts about the involvement of foreign mercenaries from the Myanmar side,” he said.
He has raised similar arguments since the violence began on May 3, but critics have argued that it is an attempt to evade his government’s responsibility in failing to control the violence.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence since early May when clashes between the Meiteis and the tribal Kuki community broke out, resulting in nearly 200 casualties. The ethnic tension has deepened to a point that community-based armed village defence volunteers have come up in various parts of the state.
