Unidentified gunmen shot dead a woman outside a school in violence-wracked Manipur’s Imphal West district on Thursday, officials said, a day after schools reopened for some classes in the state.
The incident occurred at Kwakeithel Mayai Koibi under Lamphel police station. On Wednesday, schools opened for students of Classes I to VIII after two months’ closure because of the violence.
Following the killing, a tribal organisation demanded the imposition of President’s rule in the northeastern state.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) identified the woman as Donngaihching, a mentally ill person who lived on alms provided by locals.
“We again urge the central government to relieve the incapable state government and impose President’s rule immediately,” the ITLF said in a statement.
Intermittent gunfire was heard at a village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district early on Thursday, hours after security forces thwarted clashes when men armed with automatic weapons began to attack villagers, sources said.
The incident took place around 3.40pm on Wednesday near Phaileng village, they said.
Armed groups from nearby areas gathered in the area, escalating tensions, the sources said.
About 1,000-1,500 women blocked roads to prevent additional forces from reaching the area, they said. However, the situation was brought under control because of the deployment of Assam Rifles personnel.
In Churachandpur, about 100km away, a large number of Kukis staged a protest on Wednesday. The rally started at Public Ground and continued till the Tuibong Peace Ground. Nearly 4,000 people participated in the rally, most of them in “combat” dress with camouflage on their faces, sources said.
PTI
