A chronological report on Manipur violence 2023 from May 3 : Part II (June)

Takhellambam Geetchandra Meitei
Contd from previous issue
The Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Satyabarta Singh stated “No immediate plan to convene Special Session of the Assembly” in the side-lines talk with media persons at Opening Relief Camp at Wangkhei Modern High School, Imphal.  One person killed while another suffered injuries in a firing attacked by unknown miscreants at Heirok Part II Ngarouthel, Thoubal district.
9th June 2023 The Naga MLAs of Manipur conducted Press Conference at Dimapur, Nagaland after meeting with Union Home Minister on 6th June 2023 at New Delhi, Minister Awangbow Newmai stated “we conveyed him clearly that in the event of any arrangement for separate administration (as demanded by Kuki MLAs), and our Naga areas should not be touched”. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a DIG rank officer to probe six cases of Manipur violence referred to it by the state government. At least 3 individuals were killed and 2 others injured in attacked by suspected Kuki militants at Sangaithel and Khoken Village in the adjoining of Imphal West and Kangpokpi Districts.  Assam Rifles seized a truck along with 350 no.s of ammunition in Champhai’s Zotlang area of Mizoram to be moving across the border towards Manipur.
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.
(To be contd)