Manipur. (24:04): Violence continues unabated in Manipur, with clashes and gunfire occurring almost daily. Yesterday, there was another outbreak of violence between two groups, resulting in heavy firing from both sides. Local residents managed to save themselves by fleeing and seeking shelter in safe areas. The firing occurred between village volunteers of rival communities in Awang Sekmai and neighboring villages in Imphal West district. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far, and security forces, led by senior police officers, have arrived at the scene to restore order.
It’s worth noting that the first phase of voting for the Outer Manipur (ST) parliamentary constituency, along with Inner Manipur, took place on April 19 in 15 out of 28 assembly constituencies. The remaining 13 constituencies for the Outer Manipur seat will go to polls in the second phase on Friday. However, reports have emerged of police personnel refusing to perform duty in tense areas due to the ongoing violence.
Police personnel from the Meitei community in Imphal have protested, citing concerns for their safety. They feel at risk performing duty in the tribal-dominated hilly areas of the state and have urged authorities to assign them election duty elsewhere.
