Militants kidnap 3 Meiteis, kill a cop in Manipur | Imphal News

IMPHAL: Suspected Kuki militants killed a cop and allegedly kidnapped three Meiteis in separate incidents Thursday even as the overall situation in violence-hit Manipur improved further with curfew relaxations in 11 of its 16 districts, including restive Churachandpur.
Constable H Jiten died and five other policemen were injured when suspected Kuki militants ambushed their team in Bishnupur district, police sources said. One of the injured is critical. Additional forces are trying to track down the attackers. On Wednesday, an Assam Rifles jawan was wounded in firing by unidentified miscreants in Imphal East district.

The abductions unfolded in Churachandpur’s Torbung Bangla, where the three Meiteis and an Armyman had come out to collect paddy from a barn partly burnt when the strife began on May 3. The Armyman saw the militants approach and was knifed when he tried informing a BSF camp nearby. Security forces have launched a hunt to trace the trio.

Overall, the Army and central forces kept up their vigil in sensitive areas while the curfews were eased in more pockets, including Imphal West. Mobile internet will stay suspended till May 13.
At least 68 people have died and over 45,000 left homeless in the violence since May 3 after a “tribal solidarity march” in the 10 hill districts to protest the Meiteis’ demand for ST status.