An uneasy calm descended on Wednesday over the villages of Torbung and Phougakchao Ikhai in the periphery of Manipur's Bishnupur district. This followed a night of terror when armed miscreants launched attacks on these settlements, which are currently witnessing the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Night of Terror and Heightened Security
The attacks occurred on Tuesday night, sending shockwaves through the communities. Residents reported hearing intense bursts of gunfire and explosions starting around 8:30 PM. In response, a heavy security presence was swiftly deployed along the sensitive Bishnupur-Churachandpur district boundary. Routine patrolling was intensified across strategic locations to prevent any further escalation of violence.
One resident, Oinam Aparna from Torbung, recounted the harrowing ordeal. She described how she and her children were having dinner and preparing for bed when the sounds of gunfire and blasts erupted. Terrified, the family took shelter under a bed, praying for the assault to end. When a bomb exploded near their house, Aparna fled with her children to a safer spot within the locality. She revealed that she had only returned to her home about a year ago, after living in a relief camp since the major violence erupted in the state on May 3, 2023.
Weapons Recovered and Official Response
During search operations on Wednesday in areas where the firing originated, security forces made significant recoveries. They found six locally made ‘pumpi’ guns, one medium improvised explosive device (IED) weighing approximately 3kg, one single barrel firearm, and 17 empty cases of different calibres. The IED was safely disposed of by security personnel on Wednesday afternoon, though its explosion during disposal caused renewed panic among locals.
The Manipur Police issued a statement confirming that an FIR has been registered in connection with the "indiscriminate firing by Kuki armed groups at Torbung." The statement assured the public that security has been beefed up and that joint forces are carrying out intensive combing and area domination operations to ensure safety.
Ongoing Fear and Community Impact
Despite the security measures, residents continue to live in profound fear and uncertainty. They have appealed to authorities to take stringent action against the assailants to prevent future attacks and ensure their long-term safety. Locals stated that Tuesday night’s attack was not an isolated incident, alleging that villages have faced periodic attacks from the Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur side, though the latest assault was notably more intense.
Aparna and others questioned the effectiveness of the security arrangements, pointing out that such violent incidents seem to recur whenever villagers attempt to resettle in homes closer to Kuki-inhabited areas. The wider impact of the attack was felt across the valley. Several schools declared a holiday on Wednesday due to the tense situation, markets were closed in some areas, and people staged roadblocks in protest against the continuing violence.
