Gunfight between rival groups in Kangpokpi District, Manipur, claims two lives

In the most recent violent incident that occurred in the Kangpokpi area of Manipur on Monday, a fight between two rival gangs claimed the lives of two people. According to PTI, the police said that the event happened close to the villages of Haraothel and Kobsha, but they are still unsure of the precise cause.

According to a tribe, the Kuki-Zo village was subjected to an unjustified assault, which prompted them to announce a “shutdown” throughout the region. Gunfights between armed villagers have been common in the area since early May, when ethnic tensions between the Kuki and Meitei clans first surfaced.

According to a police spokesman, more security has been sent to the scene to handle the rapidly growing crisis, and attempts are being made to capture those responsible for the incident.

The Committee for Tribal Unity (COTU), situated in Kangpokpi, denounced the alleged unwarranted assault on the Kuki-Zo village and proclaimed a “emergency shutdown” inside the region. In a meeting, the COTU also asked the government to set up distinct tribal governance structures.

The latest violence has its roots in events that transpired on May 3, which saw an upsurge in ethnic tensions subsequent to a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ conducted in the hill areas. The purpose of the march was to express opposition to the Meitei community’s claim to Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation. More than 180 people have died in the area since then.

Based on Manipur’s demographic mix, Meiteis make up around 53% of the population, with the majority living in the Imphal Valley. In contrast, 40% of the population is made up of indigenous people, mostly from the hill areas and includes the Nagas and Kukis.