July 28, 2023: An riotous mob set fire to approximately 15 to 16 abandoned houses and partially damaged the forest guest house in Moreh, a border town situated about 110 km south of Imphal near the Indo-Myanmar border, as reported by the police.
On Thursday, a fresh round of encounters between security forces and suspected armed miscreants in Manipur's Bishnupur district resulted in injuries to four individuals, including a state police personnel, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The firing and retaliation between the two sides commenced at around 5 am at Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai and Terakhongsangbi areas under Phougakchao Ikhai police station in Bishnupur district, as mentioned by the sources. However, the report of one police personnel and three village volunteers being injured came to light at approximately 1:45 pm.
The injured individuals were taken to the Bishnupur district hospital and another hospital in Imphal for treatment. Among them, one person's condition was critical, as per the sources.
A journalist who visited the area on Thursday stated, "We heard firing sounds when we reached near Kwakta in Bishnupur district."
In a separate incident, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Thursday that, at the Manipur government's request, a CBI probe was ordered into the distressing incident where two women were paraded naked on May 4. The Centre also urged the court to shift the case outside the state and expedite the trial, aiming to conclude it within six months. The Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla, submitted an affidavit in his official capacity before the SC, expressing the government's zero-tolerance approach towards crimes against women. He stated that seven accused individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The Centre assured the court that it is closely monitoring the law and order situation in Manipur, and while it is primarily the state government's responsibility, the Centre is actively engaged in initiating various interventionist measures, including both mediating and political processes, to address the escalating ethnic clashes.
Furthermore, the state government has established "district psychological support" teams to provide mental health intervention at various relief camps and is offering other relief, rehabilitation, and healthcare measures. The state government has been advised to form fast-track courts to ensure a swift completion of trials against those accused of violence and other crimes during the clashes.
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