Who are the mystery shooters breaking the stillness of the nights in Manipur?

Last night, intermittent firing and arson was reported from Tera Khongsangbi area in Bishnupur district that caused fresh tension in the state

Who are the mystery shooters breaking the stillness of the nights in Manipur?

Can authorities disclose the identity of the gunmen who are shattering the calm in parts of trouble-torn Manipur? Well one is asking these questions because highly placed official sources have confirmed to Northeast Live that most of the over 2,000 rebels under Suspension of Operations (SoO) have returned to the dozen odd designated camps spread in the hill districts of Manipur.

Last night, intermittent firing and arson was reported from Tera Khongsangbi area in Bishnupur district that caused fresh tension in the state.

One of the injured persons, who was shifted to a private hospital in Imphal, has since succumbed to his injuries. After the news of the death trickled in, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Tiddim Road in Imphal blocking the movement of vehicles belonging to the security forces. The protests were held along the Tiddim road in Moirang too where the BSF had to resort to blank firing to disperse the crowd. The situation prompted the authorities to re-clamp curfew hastily in Bishnupur.

Well, this was not the only firing incident this week. Earlier on May 21, as many as 3 persons were injured in Imphal West during a shootout. This was followed next day by the threatening of women vendors at New Checkon area by armed gunmen allegedly led by an Ex-MLA after which three persons including the former MLA were arrested.

It may be mentioned here that the Manipur government has not made any fresh demand for revoking of the Suspension of Operations agreement with the Kuki rebels but Meitei Civil Society groups are making a forceful demand for revocation of the SoO agreement with Kuki rebel groups alleging that they are still on the loose and are engaged in carrying out sporadic attacks.

According to official sources, there are 17 SoO groups under the banner of the Kuki National Organization and 8 under the United People’s Front. As per official sources the cadres numbering over 2,000 are housed in about a dozen designated camps. Sources added that after the violence that started on May 3rd, the Union Government has directed the Army and the Assam Rifles besides state authorities to regularly monitor the presence of the cadres in the designated camps and also gave strict instructions to act tough if the rebels are found missing from the camps.

Official sources, however, admitted that some of the SoO cadres are still outside the designated camps and that a hunt is on to locate them.

Also Read : Kangpokpi: Protestors demand “solution first, peace next”

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