Imphal: A TV journalist, a policeman and two village volunteers were injured in separate incidents of firing by miscreants in the last 24 hours in strife-torn Manipur, which saw violence erupting since Tuesday after a brief lull and disrupting Christmas celebrations.
The local journalist, identified as L Kabichandra, sustained a bullet injury to his left thigh in a firing near Wunghon village in Ukhrul district on Saturday. He was taken to a hospital where he is out of danger. The attack came a day after a policeman and two village volunteers sustained bullet injuries in clashes in Thamnaopokpi and Sanasabi, respectively, in Kangpokpi.
“Christmas midnight mass and playground programmes were cancelled. We only heard gunshots instead of Christmas songs,” said Rn Ringphami, a resident of Wunghon Tangkhul.
In a post on X, Manipur CM N Biren Singh wrote, “Strongly condemn the indiscriminate firing by Kuki militants at Sanasabi and Thamnapokpi in Imphal East, which injured civilians and security personnel. This cowardly and unprovoked attack on innocent lives is an assault on peace and harmony.”
“…The injured are receiving necessary medical assistance, and the govt calls for calm and unity,” he said.