Tensions have flared up again in Manipur as suspected Kuki militants opened fire on a temple from a nearby hill. The incident occurred on Friday when a group of devotees visited the sacred Meitei site, Kongba Maru. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.
This attack comes just a day after armed Meitei groups voluntarily surrendered 246 weapons to security forces. Authorities reported that seven rounds of gunfire were directed toward the temple, prompting the deployment of additional security personnel in the area.
Following the gunfire, residents from nearby villages took to the streets in protest, blocking roads and demanding the demolition of bunkers occupied by militants in the hills. They called for urgent measures to restore peace and ensure the safety of the Meitei community.
Meanwhile, the deadline for surrendering looted and illegal weapons in Manipur has been extended until March 6, 4 PM. The state has been grappling with ongoing ethnic violence since May 2023, during which insurgents looted around 6,000 weapons from paramilitary and police armories. More than 250 people have lost their lives in the unrest, and several temples have been vandalized.