13 Meiteis Brutally Murdered in Ambush in Manipur
On 4th December, a tragic incident occurred in the village of Leithao in Manipur, where 13 Meiteis were brutally murdered in an ambush. The area is predominantly dominated by Kukis, and the incident took place just a day after the Kuki-Zo tribal groups welcomed a Peace Agreement between the Meitei Militant Faction UNLF (Pambei) and the Government of India.
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The Assam Rifles launched an operation following intelligence inputs about the firefight and recovered the dead bodies of the Meiteis from the region. Surprisingly, no weapons were found near the deceased.
The bodies were taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal East, where the security agencies were able to identify all 13 victims on 5th December. Contrary to initial reports that suggested the deceased were militants from Myanmar, it was revealed that they were locals from various districts in Manipur.
The incident has raised questions about how the victims reached the location where they were killed, as they were from different areas. All of them were between the ages of 17 and 47.
The highest single-day toll in six months, this incident has shocked the entire state. Leithao village had been relatively peaceful since the tension erupted in May, which led to violence in several places across Manipur. The lack of security forces in the town, with the nearest post located 10 km away, contributed to the vulnerability of the village.
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Villagers have claimed that the slain individuals were part of a group of attackers who entered the village on 4th December. According to them, the defence volunteers of the town engaged in a firefight with the attackers, resulting in the death of 13 individuals while the other seven managed to escape.
The villagers, now living with their relatives in nearby areas, have expressed their fear of further attacks and have requested a permanent post of the Assam Rifles in the village. They have also highlighted the need for proper road connectivity in order to ensure timely response during emergencies.
The incident once again highlights the ethnic violence that has been plaguing Manipur since May, when tribal groups protested against the demand for ST status by the Meitei community. The authorities must take immediate action to ensure the safety and security of the people in the region.
