Chaos in Manipur, now in govt too; Kuki outfit quits

NT Correspondent

Imphal: In a major blow for the N Biren Singh government in Manipur, NDA partner Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) on Sunday announced withdrawal of support from the government.

In a letter to Governor Anusuiya Uikey, KPA president Tongmang Haokip informed about the party's decision to snap ties with the BJP-led government in Manipur, where ethnic rioting since the last three months has claimed more than 160 lives.

"After careful consideration of the current conflagration, the continued support for the incumbent government of Manipur led by Chief Minister N Biren SIngh is no longer fructuous.

"Accordingly, the support of the KPA to the Government of Manipur is hereby withdrawn and can be considered null and void," Haokip said in the letter.

In the 60-member House, the KPA has two MLAs - Kimneo Haokip Hangshing from Saikul and Chinlunthang from Singhat.

The development will have no impact on the stability of the government, as the BJP has 37 members in the Manipur Assembly. The NPP has seven MLAs and the NPS has five.

The Congress has five legislators. The Kukis and the Meitis community are at loggerheads in the state over a quota row which has led to the violence which began in May. 

Kuki MLAs afraid of going to Imphal

Most Kuki MLAs irrespective of party affiliations are unlikely to attend the Manipur assembly session slated to be called from August 21 in view of the violence, according to leaders from the community.

A Meitei organisation COCOMI, which has been spearheading demands for an early session of the assembly, however, claimed that it would ensure safety of tribal MLAs.

MANIPUR REPORTS FRESH VIOLENCE, 15 HOUSES TORCHED, 1 PERSON SHOT

Fifteen houses were set on fire in Manipur's Imphal West district where fresh violence broke out, officials said on Sunday.

The incident happened on Saturday evening at Langol Games village as a mob went on a rampage, they said. Security personnel fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control, they added.

A 45-year-old man was shot during the violence. He was admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) with bullet wounds on his left thigh, and is stated to be out of danger at present, officials said.

The situation improved on Sunday morning, but restrictions remained in place, they said. Fresh violence was also reported from Imphal East district's Checkon area where a large commercial establishment was torched on Saturday, officials said.

Three nearby houses were also set on fire, they said, adding that firefighters doused the blaze. Also, a gunfight broke out between security forces and militants in Kangpokpi district on Saturday evening.

The incident happened at A Mungchamkom in New Keithelmanbi police station area, officials said. A man was nabbed and an SLR with 50 rounds was seized.

The incidents of violence were reported amid the 24-hour general strike called by the coordinating committee of 27 assembly constituencies.