IMPHAL, June 19: A 60-year-old farmer was injured on Thursday after being hit by a bullet allegedly fired by armed Kukis while the former was working in his paddy field at Phubala in Bishnupur district of Manipur.
The farmer has been identified as Ningthoujam Biren. He sustained a bullet injury on his left arm and was initially taken to the Phubala Health Care Centre for first aid before being shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, for further treatment.
According to local residents, about five to six rounds were fired toward the paddy field at around 3:20 p.m.
Related Posts:
Police confirmed the incident and said forces had rushed to the spot following the gunfire. In the aftermath, women in the area began blocking Tiddim Road, protesting against the deployment of central security forces. They alleged that the central forces might take biased action in favour of the Kuki militants.
The incident comes just three days after an incident between Kuki and Meitei villagers in Leitanpokpi, Imphal East, on June 15 (Sunday). In that incident, a group of Kuki villagers reportedly obstructed Meitei farmers from ploughing a paddy field in Sadu Lampak near a Kuki village. The field had remained unutilized since Kuki groups allegedly began occupying Meitei villages during the ongoing ethnic conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, with the state government placed under suspended animation. (NNN)
