Manipur conflict: Death toll since last year reaches 258, over 9,000 additional forces being deployed

The last rites of bodies of the nine Meitei persons were performed on Friday amid the presence of security forces. The bodies of 12 Hmar persons have not yet been buried as the Kuki-Zo organisations refused to do so without the post-mortem reports.

Guwahati: The death toll due to the conflict involving the Meitei and Kuki communities and the action taken by the security forces since May last year in Manipur have reached 258, the Centre's security advisor Kukdiep Singh told reporters in Imphal on Friday.

Singh further said 90 additional companies of central police forces (comprising over 9,000 personnel) are being deployed in view of the recent spike in violence. "The Centre decided to deploy 70 additional companies but we sought 20 more companies. So in total, 90 additional companies are being deployed. This will take the total number of central armed police forces to 288 companies," he said.

Singh said nearly 3,000 weapons, ouf of 6,000, which were looted from armoures, has been recovered so far. "Operation in search of the remaining weapons is on, he said.

One company of paramilitary forces comprises between 90 and 120 personnel. The paramilitary forces comprise CRPF, Rapid Action Force, BSF, SSB and ITBP. These are in addition to Army and Assam Rifles personnel deployed in the conflict-torn state.

The Centre decided to rush the additional forces after the state witnessed fresh violence, particularly in Jiribam district, which by and large remained untouched by the conflict that started in May last year.

At least 22 people belonging to both the communities have died in the attacks and in action by the CRPF and police. The fresh conflict started after a 31-year-old woman teacher belonging to Hmar community was allegedly raped and burnt alive by suspected Meitei armed personnel in Jiribam on November 7.

This followed the killing of a Meitei woman farmer and later killing of 10 "armed militants" (belonging to Hmar community) by CRPF and police on November 11.

After the gunfight, two Meitei elderly men were found dead and six other women and children were found missing. The bodies of the six were later recovered from a river along Assam-Jiribam boundary. The state government alleged involvement of Kuki-Zo militants in the abduction and killing of the six.

This triggered fresh protests in the Meitei-dominated Valley, in which protesters vandalised or burnt houses of at least 13 MLAs and ministers. As the situation turned volatile, CM Biren Singh said an operation was launched in search of those involved in the killings.

The last rites of bodies of the nine Meitei persons were performed on Friday amid the presence of security forces, Kuldiep Singh said. The bodies of 12 Hmar persons, including the woman and the 10 suspected militants, have not yet been buried as the Kuki-Zo organisations refused to do so without the post-mortem reports.

CM on protesters:

CM N Biren Singh on Friday told news agencies that several persons who had attacked the houses of the MLAs and ministers and looted them have been identified and legal action would be taken.

At least 32 persons have been arrested so far in the valley. "CCTV footage has shown that a section looted the properties in the name of protest. This is shameful. Legal action is being initiated," Singh said.