The state of Manipur remains embroiled in violence, with the recent death in the ongoing clashes in Pallel, Tengnoupal district, adding to the toll. The unfortunate incident has brought the death count due to the Pallel violence to three on a fateful Saturday.
The victim, a 37-year-old man, succumbed to his injuries overnight while undergoing treatment at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, according to officials cited by PTI. He had sustained a critical bullet wound to his head during the crossfire between security forces and armed miscreants.
The situation in Pallel escalated when hundreds of individuals from the majority community attempted to storm tribal villages, resulting in two deaths and injuring around fifty others, including Indian Army personnel.
The conflict intensified further when a gunfight erupted between security forces and armed individuals at Molnoi village, near Pallel. The armed miscreants were reportedly attempting to incite violence and arson in the village.
As news of the gunfight spread, large groups of Meitei community members, accompanied by Meira Paibis and Arambai Tenggol militiamen dressed in commando uniforms, gathered near the conflict zone. Their intention was to march towards Pallel, and they attempted to breach security checkpoints.
Security forces personnel intervened to prevent further escalation of the situation. Their primary goal is to restore peace and stability to Pallel, which had been experiencing heightened tensions for several days.
The situation took a turn for the worse when some armed individuals, disguised in police uniforms, opened fire on the mob. This resulted in gunshot injuries to an Army major, who was subsequently evacuated to a military hospital in Leimakhong by helicopter. Three other police personnel were also injured in the incident.
Initial reports indicate that security forces used minimum force to disperse the mob. Teargas shelling was deployed, leading to injuries to approximately 45 women during the encounter. Tragically, one person lost their life in the Friday morning gunfight, and a 48-year-old man was fatally caught in the crossfire.
The situation in Pallel remains volatile, with tensions running high and security forces striving to maintain peace and stability in the region. The ongoing violence underscores the need for immediate attention and efforts to resolve the underlying issues contributing to the unrest.