Woman shot in Manipur, 2nd killing in three days

Suspected militants gunned down a woman, second in three days, while she was working in paddy fields at Bishnupur district in Manipur on Saturday.

Sources said the incident took place around 11 am at Saiton village in Bishnupur district of Imphal valley, which adjoins the hill district of Churachandpur.

Security personnel said the woman, along with other villagers, had gone to the paddy fields when armed militants opened fire from the hills of Churachandpur on Saturday morning. On November 7, a 31-year-old teacher was shot in the leg and burnt alive in a Hmar-dominated village of Zairon in Manipur’s Jiribam district. The sources said suspected militants had attacked the village and also burnt houses after firing at villagers. The incident sparked tension at Jiribam.

Security forces are planning to launch special operations in coordination with the state police to nab the extremists involved in both killings.

A senior security official said normally, violent incidents cease during harvesting season. However, these two killings show that militants belonging to both ethnic groups - Kukis and Meiteis - are trying to dominate each other.

“Though the suspects in both incidents are yet to be identified, special operations are being launched to nab them,” the security official said.

Over 200 people have been killed in ethnic clashes in the Meiteis and Kuki communities of Imphal Valley since May last year, leaving thousands homeless. Additional security measures have now been put in place in the affected areas.