A chronological report on Manipur violence 2023 from May 3
- Part 4 -

Takhellambam Geetchandra Meitei *

10th June 2023 : The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) Sadar Hills re-imposed blockade of the National Highway no. 2 in Kangpokpi District sector aftermath of the firing incident on 9th June 2023 Khoken Village which 3 persons including an elderly woman were reportedly killed and 2 others injured. Ministry of Home Affairs constituted a Peace Committee with the state Governor Anusuiya Uikey as the Chairperson, including Chief Minister, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Leaders from different political parties, former civil servants, educationalists, litterateurs, artistes, social workers and representatives of ethnic groups. Government Spokesperson Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan conduted Press meet at DIPR auditorium, Imphal publicized “349 relief camps are opened and 50,648 displaced persons in the state affected by crisis”.

11th June 2023 : Involvement of heavily armed Kuki militants in the on-going violence has clearly established from the footages of drones suspected to be utilised and handled by volunteers of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF). One suspected KRA cadre along with other person were round up by people of Ichum Kom Keirap and Waroiching Leimaram and handed over to Police for further investigation.

A group of armed miscreants attacked trucks and robbed all cash from 25 trucks, which are moving along with security convoy, in Nungkao area of National Highway No. 37. The Chairman of the Privilege and Ethics Committee of Manipur Assembly said “No response from Kuki MLAs on the show cause notice issued to them over separate administration demand”.

12th June 2023 : The Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh conducted a Press Conference at CM Secretariat, Imphal stated “Government to construct 4000 pre-fabricated housed for displaced persons, No work-no pay system for government officials, Centre already sanctioned Rs. 100 crore (approx.) relief packages, 30000 Metric ton rice for distribution to the affected people, over 40000 paramilitary forces deployed, Centre repeatedly assures Manipur territorial integrity will not be disturbed, State is committed to safeguarding Manipur’s integrity.

At least 9 persons injured after a gunfight between suspected Kuki militants and a group of Meitei Villagers near Khamenlok Village. One suspected Kuki militant was killed in an encounter between state forces and Kuki militants at Govindpur village, Bishnupur District. One individual injured in a bomb blast suspected to trigger by Kuki Militants during search of a missing person at Sugnu Nazareth.

13th June 2023 : Two persons sustains injury after Rapid Action Force (RAF) started pelting stones at houses and vandalising vehicles parked on road, fired tear gas shells at Moirangkhom, Imphal West. Violence continued for second day near Khamenlok Village between Kuki militants and Meitei villagers. Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh conducted Press Conference at CM Secretariat, Imphal informed “1040 arms, 13601 ammunition and 230 bombs of different types recovered from various Districts of state”.

14th June 2023 : Nine people were killed and 13 injured in a gunfight between Kuki Militants and Meitei Village Guard Volunteers at Aigejang Village near Khamenlok. A large number of people clad in black outfits were captured in a drone footage moving toward Torbung and the valley from Churachandpur. A mob tried to set ablaze the official residence of Commerce and Industries Minister Nemcha Kipgen located at Lamphel, Imphal West District, the house was saved from devastation due to timely arrival of fire tenders.

15th June 2023 : One civilian injured in a gunfight at Phoubakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai between Kuki militants and village volunteers after the Kuki launched an offensive from the nearby hills. Tension erupted in New Checkon, Imphal East District after 2 houses and 3 shops set on fired by unknown miscreants, as security forces several tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, many including women injured.

NSCN IM’s Collective Leadership Member Rh Raishing in a statement stated “Refugees nomadic people and immigrants do not have politics of their own and people cannot imagine politics without land”. A status report furnished by Chief Secretary and Commissioner (Home) Govt. of Manipur to the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) stated “Article 355 has not yet been imposed in Manipur”.

16th June 2023 : A large numbers of mob vandalised and ablaze the residence of Union Minister of State for External Affairs Dr. Rk. Ranjan Singh located at Kongba, Imphal East District. React to the incident Dr. Rk. Ranjan Singh stated “The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed, the state government couldn’t maintain the law and order situation despite the centre providing large numbers of central forces.

Fresh gunfights broke between the secutity forces and Kki militants at adjoining areas of Vaiphei Village in Churachandpur and Phoubakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai in Bishnupur District. One Kuki men held involved in arson at New Checkon, Imphal East.

A delegation of Manipur Political parties including Indian National Congress (INC), Janata Dal (United), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), All India Trinamool Congress, All India Forward Bloc, Shiv Sena (UBT), Revolutionary Socialist Party of India, Socialist Party of India, Aam Aadmi Party, National Congress Party reached New Delhi to meet Prime Minister.

17th June 2023 : Suspected Kuki militants launched attacked in the two Border Security Forces (BSF) posts located at Royal Dairy Farm Phoubakchao and Kangvai. Mob tried to vandalised state BJP President Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi’s residence located at Brahmapur Aribam Leikai, Imphal East District and torched the head office of BJP Thongju Assembly Constituency.

BJP Manipur refuted the claim of UKLF Chief SS Haokip that the armed organisation helped BJP in the assembly election conducted in 2027 at Press meet organised held at BJP Head Office, Imphal. In response to the call given by COCOMI the Meiteis across the world staged human chain to let people across the world know that the ongoing violence in Manipur as a part of nacro-terrorism.

18th June 2023 : Protestors smashed and burnt Radio sets during the broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme at Kakching Bazar, Kakching District denouncing Prime Minister’s silence on the violence in Manipur since May 3. National President of Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Mobi over his silence on Manipur issue “your (PM Modi) ‘Maan ki Baat’ should first include ‘Manipur ki Baat’ but in vain, the situation in the border state is precarious and deeply disturbing”.

19th June 2023 : Heavily armed Kuki militants fired and burnt down four houses of Meitei and one house of Naga at Leimakhong Chingmang, Imphal West District. Condemning in the strongest term the burning down of a Liangmei Naga’s house at Leimakhong Chingmang, the Liangmei Naga Council-Eastern Zone (LNC-EZ) asserted that they would not remain silent. According to the official record of District Administration, Imphal East a total of 605 houses belong to Meitei and Kuki communities were burnt down in Imphal East District.

A delegation of 9 MLAs of Manipur submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister at New Delhi in connection with the present unrest and violence in the state of Manipur from May 3. On the other hand, another team of 23 comprising MLAs and Ministers including MP Rajya Sabha meet Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at New Delhi to bring peace in Manipur. The Meira Paibi Activists of Manipur staged protest against Kuki Militants who frequently attacking the Meitei villages at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.

20th June 2023 : A gunfight broke out between security forces and suspected Kuki militants at Singda Kandangband Part I, Imphal West District. A combined team of Army and state police conducted search operation in Leimakhong Chingmang, however the locals of Leimakhong Chingmang dissatisfaction over the search operation, contending the army did not take along the state forces or media in the operation.

Meira Paibi activist launched intense protest at the gate of 33 Assam Rifles (C coy) near Lilong Police Station against detention of four volunteers of Meitei village guards by the AR Unit. During the protest 29 women were injured in crackdown by AR personnel using rifles butts and other objects. Joint Tribe Council (JTC) a conglomeration of Zeme Naga Council Manipur, Liangmei Naga Council Manipur, Rongmei Naga Council Manipur & Inpui Union Manipur warn Kukis over the burning down of Liangmei Naga house at Leimakhong.

21st June 2023 : While the globe observes 21st June as International Yoga Day, the thousands of denizens of Thoubal, Manipur observed “No Yoga Day” by burning effigy of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his silence even after 48 days of violence in the state. Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fitted in a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle blast at a Bridge connecting Kwakta and Phoubakchao Ikhai along with Tiddim Road in Bishnupur District.

At the blast, 3 kids belonging to Manipuri Muslim community of Kwakta sustained injury. Supected Kuki militants launched attacked at Khurkhul, Senjam Chirang and Kanto Sabal villages belongs to Meitei communities. On the other hand, Kuki militants shot several rounds of bullets towards some villagers who went to inspect the water level of Moirang High Canal, Bishnupur District.

22nd June 2023 : At least four injured in gunfight at North Boljang Village, Imphal West District between Kuki militants and security forces. Two army soldiers sustained minor injuries and one INSAS light machine gun was recovered from the site of firing by the security personnel.

A combined team of 46 Assam Rifles, CRPF and ITBP conducted Combing operation at Mata Village in Churachandpur District and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition. A live mortar shell was found at a paddy field near Kangvai under Phoubakchao Police station in Bishnupur District, later a team of AR retrieved safely.

23rd June 2023 : Heavy exchange of firing took place between security forces and armed Kuki militants at Yaingangpokpi Area, Urangpat and Gwaltabi Village, Imphal East District, which two people including a woman were injured. Investigation into the car bomb blast in the middle of a bridge culvert near Kwakta Village along the Imphal-Tiddim Road on June 21 has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the interest of national security.

To be continued...