BSF troops to be deployed near Kuki village that was attacked

CM orders an inquiry into the public display of weapons at an I-Day parade in Churachandpur distt

- Prawesh Lama

A team of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel is likely to be posted near Thawai Kuki village, where three village guards, all members of the tribal Kuki community, were killed by armed miscreants on Friday morning, according to people aware of the matter.

Security forces are combing the jungles of the adjoining hills, where the armed miscreants are believed to be hiding, but the attackers are still absconding, the people said.

Friday's violence marked the first killings in the state in 13 days, breaking the fragile peace established in a state where clashes between the dominant Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community has killed at least 155 people and displaced another 50,000 people.

The likely deployment of the BSF comes on a day when Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh sought an explanation and ordered an inquiry from Churachandpur deputy commissioner over the display of weapons at an Independence Day parade in the hill district - a development that is further adding to the tension in the ethnic violence-hit state.

The photos and videos of the function showed young men, who were part of the parade, in combat fatigue carrying what appears to be sophisticated weapons.