Three people collecting firewood in a forested area of Manipur were allegedly killed by suspected militants on Monday, triggering protests in Imphal, where locals brought one of the bodies and placed it outside Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s residence.
Four others were also injured as militants allegedly opened fire on a group of firewood collectors at the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts.
Security personnel deployed outside the Chief Minister’s bungalow were caught off guard when a group of protesters arrived with the body and left it.
According to news agency PTI, three persons are still missing in the incident that happened in Khongbal Sunurok Uyok in Kangpokpi, a few metres from Nongshum village in Imphal East.
The deceased have been identified as Arubam Ronil (35) and Lairenlakpam Inaobi (51). It has been learnt that the three deceased were among 16 people who had gone to the hills near their village early in the morning to collect firewood.
Angry locals brought the bodies to the state capital to protest the violence that has plagued the state since May 2023. They placed the bodies outside the main gate of the Chief Minister’s residence in Babupara.
It was not immediately known whether Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh was present at the residence during the protest.
Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the protesters, following which the bodies were taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).
One of the injured, identified as Ksh Deven, was stated to be in a serious condition, officials said.
(With agency inputs)
