The northeastern state of Manipur is currently experiencing sporadic violence, with two incidents reported from the Senapati and Churachandpur districts on Saturday. In the first incident, an armed group fired upon a domination patrol team of the Assam Rifles in a forest area near Sipijang village in Senapati.
The Assam Rifles troopers retaliated, and the attackers fled the scene leaving behind their arms and ammunition. In the second incident, another group of armed miscreants opened fire at a joint Indian Army and Assam Rifles domination patrol team in a dense forest area in Churachandpur, injuring two Assam Rifles personnel.
Despite the violence, the situation improved after the curfew was relaxed for a few hours during the daytime. However, the clashes have claimed at least 71 lives and injured 230 people. Approximately 1,700 houses were either fully or partially damaged after being set on fire.
The security forces have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits, but the dense forest cover has made it challenging to locate them. The exchange of fire between both parties ensued for some time, but the attackers managed to escape after firing a few rounds.
The violence in Manipur is a cause of concern, and the state government, along with the security forces, is taking measures to curb it. The state has a rich cultural past dating back centuries, and it is essential to maintain peace and harmony in the region.