The continuing strife in Manipur is taking a toll on lives, compelling the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Imphal to express concern at the “religious persecution”, the Archbishop of Calcutta to describe the situation as “really unfortunate” as he awaits clarity, and chief minister Mamata Banerjee to consider a visit to the northeastern state to stand by the victims of the violence.

Three people battling injuries in hospital died on Monday, PTI reported. The number of lives lost in the violence that began on May 3 has been put by some sources at 80, and by others at over 100.

“I want to visit Manipur and stand by the victims of the communal conflict. I am writing to the Centre seeking permission from them and the army to be able to go there,” Mamata told The Telegraph on Monday evening.

Although the mostly Hindu Meiteis and predominantly Christian Kukis have a long history of ethnic strife, the latest clashes have assumed communal overtones, evident from the burning of 250-plus churches.

“Whatever is happening in Manipur is very worrying. I condemn this communal violence and the burning of churches. I hope the Centre will allow me to visit Imphal,” the Bengal chief minister said.

Mamata has been closely watching the situation since violence erupted in Manipur following Kuki protests against a high court directive that appeared to buttress the majority Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

She has asserted that the latest Manipur strife is “manmade” and charged the state’s BJP government with dividing communities.

Earlier this week, Mamata had accused the BJP of trying to create “Manipur-like conflicts” in Bengal.

Manipur continued to boil on Monday despite a heavy presence of the army and paramilitary forces.

“The situation is not improving, it is actually worsening. The conflict between the communities is going on,” Dominic Lumon, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Imphal, said.

He said the “religious persecution” in the Imphal valley — an allusion to the attacks on churches and Christians — was disturbing.

“But this is happening in several other parts of India. And we all know who is behind this. Everyone knows the power behind all this and who is destroying India,” he said.

Archbishop of Calcutta Thomas D’Souza said the developments in Manipur were “really unfortunate”.

“The burning of churches, or for that matter any place of worship, certainly cannot be condoned. We condemn all forms of violence,” he told this newspaper.

“It is very unfortunate that such conflicts are taking place and communities are fighting. But we still don’t know who is fomenting this and what the root causes are,” he added.

D’Souza said the people at large should respond to the call for peace sounded by 15 bishops in the Northeast, and that all the stakeholders should come forward to help end the violence.

Multiple sources in Manipur said a return to normality remained a distant dream in view of the growing mistrust between the communities.

A comment by Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh on Sunday about the security forces killing 40 Kuki militants over the last few days appeared to have aggravated the situation.

The tribal communities have blamed the state machinery for the attacks on them.

“It is learned that the valley’s underground cadres, disguised in Manipur police uniforms, were the perpetrators leading the endless horrific crime against the tribals,” said a media release issued by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, a conglomerate of recognised tribes in Churachandpur district of Manipur.

“The poor tribal villagers defending their villages with just a handful of single barrels guns and a few licensed guns... leaving them helpless or leaving them to die at the hands of the state-led machinery.

“We strongly condemn the Manipur state government forces actions and we appeal to the central government and the central forces to deploy more forces in our villages to protect our innocent tribal villagers whose lives are in danger. We demand... the sacking of the N. Biren Singh-led government.”

Evacuations

A defence spokesperson said the Sugnu and Serou villages in Kakching district witnessed violent clashes on Sunday before the army rescued those trapped, PTI reported.

“Villagers of both communities were stranded in pockets under the protection of security forces,” the official said.

“In a major evacuation drive organised by the army and Assam Rifles in coordination with police, state administration and civil society organisations, nearly 2,000 Meitei villagers were evacuated from Serou to Pangaltabi relief camp.”

While UAVs provided aerial surveillance cover, mine-protected vehicles and area-domination patrols helped ensure a safe evacuation, the official said.

He added: “Similarly, nearly 328 Kuki villagers were safely evacuated to Sajik Tampak from Sugnu.”

25 held

The army and paramilitary forces rounded up at least 25 people with arms, ammunition and grenades and handed them over to the police, officials told PTI.

“…In the hilly region of Imphal East district, the army apprehended 22 miscreants with weapons and other war-like stores,” the defence spokesperson said.

“Five 12-bore double-barrel rifles, three single-barrel rifles, one country-made weapon with double bore and one muzzle-loaded weapon were recovered.”

He said an army column was subjected to automatic fire by people trying to burn houses.

In Imphal City, after an army mobile check-post stopped a car, its occupants got off and tried to flee but were apprehended, he added.

An Insas rifle with a magazine, 60 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, a Chinese hand grenade and a detonator were recovered.

However, sources in the Kuki community alleged that Meitei militia looted armouries in several parts of the Imphal Valley on Monday while police looked the other way.

Shah visit

Union home minister Amit Shah, who began a four-day visit to Manipur on Monday, is expected to hold several meetings on Tuesday to assess the situation and plan steps to restore normalcy, sources told PTI.

On Wednesday, he is likely to address a news conference to announce the measures initiated to control the violence. He is expected to leave Manipur on Thursday morning.