Fresh clashes rock Manipur; 40 'terrorists' killed, says CM

Utpal Parashar and Tanmay Chatterjee

At least 40 Kuki militants have been killed in a coordinated security operation in Manipur's Imphal valley in the past four days, chief minister N Biren Singh said on Sunday, hours after four civilians and a security official were killed in fresh clashes in the violence-hit state.

The latest round of "conflict is not between communities, but between Kuki militants and security forces", the CM said in an interaction with media persons at the state secretariat.

There were instances of militants armed with AK-47s, M-16s and sniper rifles firing at civilians, Singh said, stressing that these are not "Kuki militants", but "terrorists".

"State police have been conducting operations in vulnerable areas. In retaliatory and defensive operations against these terrorist groups, around 40 terrorists have been killed and a few arrested by the security forces," Singh said.

While minister of state for home Nityanand Rai has been in the northeastern state since Thursday, Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Manipur on Monday to hold talks with stakeholders to restore a sense of calm.

On Thursday, the army, Assam Rifles and state police began extensive combing operations in the state torn by ethnic violence. On Saturday, Army Chief General Manoj Pande reached the state for a two-day visit to review the operations.

Officials said that the casualties could rise as the operations were ongoing.

"The operations are underway at several places. The number of deaths and those injured are likely to rise," a senior state government official said on condition of anonymity.

The state has been in the throes of ethnic violence after the Manipur high court on April 27 directed that the Meities, the dominant community in the state forming 53% of population, be included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list.