A farmer was injured on Monday morning in Manipur’s Imphal East district when militants opened fire from hilltop positions, marking the third consecutive day of such attacks on farmers in the troubled region. The incident occurred around 9:20 a.m. in Yaingangpokpi Shantikhongban, as militants from neighboring Kangpokpi district targeted those working in the paddy fields. One farmer suffered pellet injuries to his hand and was taken to Yaingangpokpi PHC for treatment; he is currently out of danger, according to police reports.
These attacks are part of ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, severely impacting agricultural activities and causing fear among farmers in peripheral areas of the Imphal Valley. Many farmers are now reluctant to venture into their fields, fearing further violence as ethnic tensions continue to rise between the valley-based Meiteis and the hill-dwelling Kukis.
The recent escalation began on Saturday, when a 34-year-old woman farmer was killed in Saiton, Bishnupur district, following a militant attack from the hilltop positions in Churachandpur district. The violence extended into Sunday, with attacks reported in the Sanasabi, Sabungkhok Khunou, and Thamnapokpi areas of Imphal East district.
Security forces have been engaged in returning fire to these hilltop positions to quell the violence, but the impact on local communities has been devastating. Over 200 people have been killed, and thousands have been left homeless since the conflict erupted in May last year, highlighting the severe toll on both human life and crucial agricultural activities in the region.
Efforts to stabilize the area continue, but the ongoing attacks underscore the deeply-rooted ethnic tensions that have led to widespread insecurity and economic disruption for the farming communities in Manipur.
