‘Stray bullet’ kills police officer in Manipur’s Harothel

A “stray bullet” killed a police officer out to collect evidence for the probe into firing at Harothel in ethnic violence-hit Manipur’s Kangpoki district that left two people dead on Thursday, officials aware of the matter said.

“Head Constable [Lenglem] Dimngel was a resident of Ichaigojang in Saikul sub-division. He was in Harothel to collect evidence. He was hit by a stray bullet,” said a police officer from Kangpokpi, requesting anonymity.

Officials said that firing in and around Harothel village continued till 8pm on Thursday even as the security forces conducted area domination exercises. Armed attackers fired at villagers early on Thursday and killed two people. They also fired at security forces when they rushed to the village after reports of “unprovoked firing,” the Army said in a tweet on Thursday.

The attacks, around 20 km from the capital Imphal, on Thursday followed a brief lull in the violence that raised hopes that it was ebbing. They highlighted the challenges the authorities face in restoring normalcy and the threat armed groups that target specific locations and then lie low pose.

The ethnic violence erupted on May 3 in Churachandpur after tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a proposal for granting scheduled tribe status to the majority Meitei community. It has left at least 118 people dead and nearly 40,000 displaced.

Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep and prompted the deployment of additional forces and measures such as the suspension of internet services. But tensions between the dominant Meitei community, which largely lives in the Imphal valley and comprises 53% of the population, and the Kukis, who reside in the hill districts and makeup 16% of the population, have continued to simmer.