Manipur: Fresh tension erupts along Bishnupur-Churachandpur border after armed attackers hit IDP resettlement site in Torbung

Fresh tension broke out on Tuesday night in the Torbung area, which lies on the border between Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts in Manipur, officials said. The incident happened around 8:30 pm after security forces exchanged gunfire with unknown armed attackers. During the clash, at least one civilian was injured, though officials said the person’s identity is still not known.

Local residents said the government had recently resettled about 389 internally displaced people from 67 families in Torbung. These families had come from areas like Phougakchao Ikhai.

Officials said that armed attackers allegedly came from the Churachandpur side and opened fire on Torbung village. Security forces responded right away. The attackers were also said to have used bombs, and the firing continued for nearly 20 minutes.

The shooting caused fear and panic among people living in nearby villages.

Officials added that extra teams from the state police and central security forces have been sent to the area to bring the situation under control. However, tension remains high in Torbung.

Manipur unrest

Manipur has been facing serious unrest since May 3, 2023. More than 260 people have lost their lives, and over 60,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. To bring the situation under control, President’s Rule was imposed in the state on February 13. Meanwhile, the government has begun the process of resettling displaced families, starting from Bishnupur district.

On December 14, several MLAs from the Bharatiya Janata Party, including four from the Kuki-Zo community, held a closed-door meeting in the national capital. Leaders who attended the meeting said it was an important step towards restoring peace in Manipur.

According to the police, the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur visited Churachandpur district on Tuesday. During his visit, he inaugurated a new conference room at the office of the Superintendent of Police in Churachandpur.

After that, the DGP held a detailed security review meeting with officers from the Manipur Police and other security forces posted in the district. The meeting focused on the current security situation and the readiness of forces on the ground.

The DGP also met with representatives of different civil society organisations (CSOs) from the district and listened to their concerns.