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Violence has continued in Manipur’s Ukhrul district since a fight broke out between two communities on February 7.
A Border Security Force (BSF) constable posted on patrolling duty was shot dead in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Friday. According to officials, constable Mithun Mandal was shot at around 4:30 pm.
After being shot, he was immediately taken to Imphal hospital, where he died at around 6 pm. Officials said that Mithun Mandal was a resident of Bhagjan Tola village in West Bengal and was posted in 170 battalion BSF.
There have been incidents of firing in Kuki village Mongkot Chepu and neighboring Tangkhul Naga area following ethnic clashes between the two communities in February. This attack took place on a BSF jawan who was patrolling amid the ongoing tension here.
Manipur Police issued a statement saying that security forces are conducting search and combing operations in the area to arrest those behind the attack. At present the identity of the attackers has not been made public.
Martyred BSF jawan Mithun Mandal.
CM Khemchand expressed grief over the murder
Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said- I strongly condemn the tragic martyrdom of Constable Mithun Mandal. The sacrifice made by this brave son of West Bengal in the line of duty will never be forgotten.
Violence started after a drunken fight
The violence began on the evening of February 7 with a drunken brawl at Litan Sreikhong in Ukhrul district, in which a man named Sterling, from the Tangkhul Naga community, was assaulted. After this, the miscreants set fire to 25 houses and four government quarters in Litan Sreikhong village of Ukhrul district.
Curfew was imposed in the entire district after the violence. Internet services were shut down for the next five days from 11:30 am on 10 February. Security forces are present in the area following a violent clash between the Tangkhul and Kuki tribes.
Along with houses, four government quarters were also set on fire in Ukhrul district.
A large number of security personnel are deployed in the area after the violence.
3 main reasons for violence between Kuki-Meitei community
1. Demand for ST (Scheduled Tribe) status: On April 14, 2023, the Manipur High Court had directed the state government to send a recommendation on granting ST status to the Meitei community. After this order, there was anger in the Kuki community and violence broke out.
Cookie is already in ST category. They fear that if Meiteis also get ST status, they will be able to buy land in the hilly areas and this will put their cultural, social and geographical existence in danger.
The Imphal Valley of Manipur accounts for about 10% of the land area, where the Meiteis live in majority. The remaining 90% of the hilly area belongs to the Kuki and Naga communities. This area comes under Tribal Lands and Meiteis cannot buy land here.
2. Demand for separate cookie administration: The Kuki communities are demanding separate administrative autonomy under the name ‘Kukiland’ or ‘Zoomland’. The Meitei community and the state government consider this demand a threat to the integrity of the state.
3. Kuki accused of drug smuggling: The Kuki community has been accused of smuggling drugs from Myanmar. The government also accused Kuki of being involved in smuggling of illegal opium plantations, further increasing his distrust of the government.
Kuki believes that such allegations are made to defame his community. The Kuki community alleges that the Manipur government (former BJP government) favors the Meiteis. They also accuse the security forces and police of unilateral action.
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