Manipur Ethnic Violence: Father, son among 3 killed

Three people, including a father and his son, were gunned down in their sleep by suspected militants in the ethnic strife-hit northeastern Indian state of Manipur, the Indian media reported yesterday citing police.

The three were gunned down and later slashed with swords at Kwakta in the Bishnupur district, police said, adding the assailants came from Churachandpur.

The three used to stay in a relief camp but had moved to their residences in Kwakta on late Thursday, PTI said quoting police.

Soon after the incident, a mob gathered at Kwakta and wanted to head towards Churachandpur but was stopped by security personnel, reports our New Delhi correspondent quoting police.

On August 4, Manipur police said a joint security force conducted an operation in the Koutruk hill range and destroyed seven illegal bunkers.

Meanwhile, a 24-hour strike called by the coordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies in Manipur went into force yesterday in Manipur capital Imhal, crippling day-to-day life.

Business establishments remained shut in almost all localities and public transport stayed off the road. Only a few private vehicles were seen plying the streets.

Schools also remained closed due to the strike from midnight.

The months-long outbreak of violence began on May 3 after a court ordered the state to consider extending to the majority Meitei population special economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education that up to now have been reserved for the tribal Kuki people.

Over 180 people have been killed and thousands have fled their homes, since the violence started in Manipur, a state of 3.2 million that borders Myanmar. It has also rendered 50,000 people homeless.