13 bodies recovered in Manipur after firing incident in Tengnoupal district
A firing incident was reported in Manipur’s Tengnoupal on Monday, after which the Assam Rifles initiated an operation in the area. Following the operation, 13 bodies were recovered in the Tengnoupal district.
According to an official, the incident unfolded around noon.
“Once our forces moved in and reached the place, they found 13 bodies in Leithu village. The forces did not find any weapons next to the bodies,” the official said.
The official source said that the deceased individuals in the Leithu area did not seem to be local residents, suggesting that they may have come from elsewhere and engaged in a firefight with another group.
The identities of the deceased are still unknown, the report added.
Notably, on December 3, the Kuki-Zo tribal groups in Tengnoupal district welcomed the recent ‘Peace Agreement’ between the Indian government and the Meitei militant faction, the UNLF (Pambei).
The Manipur government on Sunday restored mobile internet services across the state barring a few areas till December 18.
“Considering improvement in law and order and inconveniences faced by people due to the mobile internet ban, the state government has decided to relax the suspension,” the notification said.
Mobile towers catering to services within a 2 km radius along adjoining areas between districts such as Chandel and Kakching, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Kakching, Kangpokpi and Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Thoubal and Tengnoupal and Kakching will still face suspended operations, it said.
Mobile internet had been suspended in the state since May 3 following the outbreak of violence in the state.
MANIPUR CLASHES
Manipur has remained gripped by recurring bouts of violence since ethnic clashes first erupted in May. More than 180 people have been killed since then.
The clashes have occurred over a number of grievances that both sides have against the other. However, the flashpoint of the crisis has been a move to give Meiteis Scheduled Tribe status, which has since been rolled back, and an attempt to turf out tribals living in protected forest areas.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.