By India Today News Desk: At least three people were killed after fresh violence was reported in Khoijumantabi village in Manipur’s Bishnupur district. The three “village volunteers” were guarding the area in makeshift bunker when they were killed in an exchange of fire with unidentified gunmen.

Five others were left injured in the shootout that took place on Saturday night. According to the police, the condition of couple of injured people was stated to be serious and they were shifted to a hospital in Imphal.

Meanwhile, the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), two umbrella Kuki organisations, have withdrawn roadblocks in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on National Highway 2. The move follows after an appeal by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

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In a joint statement, the two Kuki organisations said the blockade on the highway has been lifted with immediate effect. The organisations said the home minister had shown “deep concern to restore peace and harmony” in the state.

Manipur has two national highways — NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam). The NH-2 has been blocked by Kuki organisations since the violence broke out in Manipur in May.

Manipur witnessed a series of ethnic clashes after violence first broke out after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Following the violence, a curfew was imposed in eight districts of Manipur and mobile internet services were suspended in the entire northeastern state for several days. The violence in Manipur was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals — Nagas and Kukis — constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

(With inputs from PTI)

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