10 killed in 24 hours in Manipur, Army steps up vigil

IMPHAL/GUWAHATI: The death toll in the latest spurt of ethnic feuding in Manipur climbed to 10 in 24 hours, prompting the Army to step up area-domination exercises with mine-protected vehicles in districts where militants have repeatedly attacked its convoys.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, a conglomerate of recognised tribes in Churachandpur, demanded immediate imposition of President's rule to stem the continuing violence.

Union home minister Amit Shah's first visit to the state since the ethnic clashes broke out on May 3 was preceded by another civilian, identified as a Meitei, being killed and one more wounded in the Wakhanphai area near Imphal East district. Nine people, including two policemen and a suspected militant, were killed overnight in Imphal East and Kakching districts.
In the Army's ongoing operation against armed outfits, the number of militants killed rose to 33. Security forces also arrested 25 "miscreants" with weapons at various places. A police contingent was engaged in a gunfight with militants near Khurkhul in Imphal West district late Monday.
Acting on specific intelligence about an armed group setting out to attack security forces in Imphal's city convention centre, the Army said it waylaid a vehicle and arrested three people. An Insas rifle with magazines, 60 rounds of ammunition, a Chinese hand grenade and a detonator were seized from them.

Troops thwarted attempts by armed groups to set houses ablaze in Sanasabi, Gwaltabi and Shabunkhol Khunao of YKPI Bowl in the hilly region of Imphal East. "Army columns were attacked with automatic weapons by the miscreants. During the operation, the Army apprehended 22 miscreants with arms," defence PRO Lt Col M Rawat said.
The Army and Assam Rifles Sunday rescued scores of "stranded" Meitei and Kuki villagers from Sugnu and Serou villages of Kakching. The defence PRO said nearly 2,000 Meitei villagers were evacuated from Serou to the Pangaltabi relief camp in defence and private vehicles escorted by the Assam Rifles. As many as 328 Kuki villagers were safely evacuated.