Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, June 9: Even as fresh violence broke out in Manipur on Friday claiming at least three lives, including a woman, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a DIG-rank officer to probe into six cases of violence referred to it by the state government.
At least two persons were also injured in Friday’s attack by suspected insurgents in Khoken village, the army sources said. The Khoken village lies on the boundary between Kangpokpi and Imphal West district. The suspected militants and the victims belonged to different communities.
Reports of incidents of violence including the burning of houses were also received from two other districts but official confirmation has not yet been received.
During his visit to the north-eastern state, Home Minister Amit Shah had announced a CBI probe to investigate six FIRs — five on alleged criminal conspiracy and one on general conspiracy behind the violence in Manipur.
Acting on a reference from the state routed through the Centre, the CBI has formed the SIT and taken over the investigation in the cases, they said. Violence broke out in the northeaster state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. So far, nearly 100 people have lost their lives and over 300 were injured ever since the ethnic violence broke out over a month ago.
According to police sources on Friday, the attackers camouflage themselves in army fatigues and drove vehicles resembling those used by the military. They went to the Khoken village early on Friday morning and fired upon the villagers with their automatic rifles. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) said this attack was yet another example of the “utter disregard” shown by insurgents, and demanded swift action against the perpetrators.
“The incident also violated the peace process called by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. We urge upon the authorities to take decisive actions against the insurgents,” the ITLF said in a statement. Residents of the village claim that their timely presence during the attack avoided a possible bloodbath, as there were women and children in the village as well.
ITLF in its statement said the woman victim was shot dead inside a Church when she was in early morning prayers. Additional columns of the Army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to control the situation in the village.
Meanwhile, a vacation bench of the Supreme Court on Friday found no reason to step in and urgently entertain a petition challenging the continued internet “ban” in Manipur despite the government’s claim that there has been a “de-escalation” in violence and clashes across the State.
Mentioning the petition before the bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal, advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the petitioners, said the ban has been continuing for over 35 days and should be discontinued since the government had claimed de-escalation of violence.
