Manipur: Violence Erupts Again, 3 Killed in Gunfire in Kuki Thowai Village of Ukhrul
A candle march to pay tribute to those killed in Manipur violence, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Image Courtesy: PTI
Imphal: In a fresh round of violence in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, mutilated bodies of three youths were found following heavy gunfire at Kuki Thowai village in Ukhrul district on Friday, officials said.
Sounds of heavy gunfire were heard from the village, which falls under Litan police station, early in the morning, they said.
Officials said the bodies of the three youths aged between 24 years and 35 years were found after police carried out a thorough search in the surrounding villages and forest areas.
Bodies of the three persons bore injury marks apparently made using sharp knives and their limbs were also chopped off, officials said.
The ethnic clashes broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53% of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals - Nagas and Kukis - constitute little over 40% and reside in the hill districts.
Firearm Display at 'Unofficial' I-Day Parade
The Manipur government has sought a report from the Churachandpur deputy commissioner and superintendent of police over the display of sophisticated firearms by a group of people at an "unofficial" Independence Day parade, a senior official said on Friday.
State security advisor Kuldiep Singh said that lawful action will be taken against those displaying firearms at the parade.
"A report has been sought from the DC and the SP over the display of sophisticated firearms by a group of people at an unofficial Independence Day parade at Churachandpur on August 15. Once the report comes, we will take lawful action against all of them (those displaying firearms)," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He said over 1,250 firearms have been recovered so far from across the state. A large number of firearms were looted from state police armouries during the last three months of ethnic clashes.
"Combing operations are being conducted regularly and firearms are being recovered on a daily basis," he said.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh added that his government is investigating how the incident (open display of firearms at the unofficial parade) happened "although they were not part of the official Independence Day parade and were conducting it separately".
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