Curfew and ban on the internet have been imposed in Ukhrul district of Manipur on Wednesday following the death of at least two civilians and a Manipur Rifles personnel in a clash between the two villages — Hunphun and Hungpung — in Ukhrul town over a decades-old boundary dispute.

The violence in Ukhrul came amid a statewide bandh called by the Joint Action Committee, a pressure group formed to secure the release of the two Meitei youths who were kidnapped on Friday from Kuki-Zo majority Kangpokpi district. Normal life was affected in Imphal valley district but it was more pronounced in Thoubal and Kakching districts. No untoward incident has been reported till Wednesday night.

An official from Ukhrul said that all three died of gun shots and at least thirty more are injured in the clash that erupted around 9.30 pm to 2 pm on Wednesday, prompting the district administration to first restricted movement of members of both villages, banned internet services and then imposed curfew to prevent the situation from escalating. Additional security personnel have been deployed in the affected areas to maintain order but the extensive use of guns in the clash will remain a cause of worry for the administration, reports said.

The deceased civilians are from Hunphun village.

Reports from Imphal said that the trigger for the clash was the cleanliness drive carried out by the Thawaijao Hungpung Young Students Organization (THYSO), leading to an altercation between the two villages which subsequently escalated into a gunfight resulting in casualties and injuries affecting both sides.

Ukhrul is a hill district dominated by the Tangkhul Naga tribe. Ukhrul became a full-fledged district in 1969 named Manipur East district. It was renamed Ukhrul district in 1983. The Opposition Congress has flayed the state and district administration for not being able to prevent the “unfortunate” incident.

An official said the situation was under control but tense and that the Tangkhul Women Organisation has “initiated” efforts to ensure there is no more violence.
Three Naga MLAs, including transport minister Khashim Vashum, Leishiyo Keishing and Ram Muivah — issued a joint appeal for peace to their “Dear beloved citizens of Hungpung and Hunphun” while reminding the affected that “our villages, bound together by blood, history and love, must not be torn apart by the fires of violence and anger”.

While appealing for talks to resolve the ongoing conflict between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zos in the state during a function to observe the National Cleanliness Day/Swachh Bharat Diwas in Imphal on Wednesday, chief minister N. Biren Singh said his government was taking all possible steps to secure the release of the two Meitei youths suspected to be abducted by Kuki militants in Kangpokpi district on September 27.