2 days ago
Manipur School Set Ablaze After Kangpokpi Gunfight, Eight Arrested
A school in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district caught fire early Monday.
The fire happened after gunmen and security forces exchanged shots near a village.
Reports said the gunmen left after about 30 minutes of fighting.
The school was allegedly set on fire while they were retreating.
A Kuki-Zo group blamed NSCN-IM-ZUF (Kamson) militants, but this allegation was not independently confirmed in the report.
The group said the attack might have been meant to provoke more conflict.
Separately, security forces searched a suspected Kuki Liberation Army camp in Gampum.
They arrested eight people and found seven automatic weapons.
Lhungjang Primary School in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district was badly damaged by fire early Monday.
The fire followed a roughly 30-minute exchange between unidentified gunmen and security forces near Lhungjang village.
The Committee on Tribal Unity alleged that NSCN-IM-ZUF (Kamson) militants attacked the village and torched the school while retreating.
CoTU said the attack may have been intended to provoke a retaliatory Kuki-Zo response and damage Kangpokpi’s reputation.
A joint security operation at a suspected Kuki Liberation Army camp in Gampum led to eight arrests and the recovery of seven automatic weapons.
- Who
- Unidentified gunmen, security forces, the Committee on Tribal Unity, and people arrested during a separate security operation.
- What
- Lhungjang Primary School was set ablaze after a gunfight, while eight people were arrested in a separate operation and seven automatic weapons were recovered.
- Where
- Lhungjang village and Gampum village in Kangpokpi district, Manipur, along the Imphal-Tamenglong Road.
- When
- Early Monday morning; the gunfight reportedly lasted about 30 minutes.
- Why
- The reported reason for the school fire is disputed; CoTU alleged it was intended to provoke a Kuki-Zo response and portray Kangpokpi negatively.
Committee on Tribal Unity’s Allegations
Reported Security and Incident Account
Responsibility for the school fire
Committee on Tribal Unity’s Allegations
CoTU alleged that armed NSCN-IM-ZUF (Kamson) militants attacked Lhungjang village and torched the school while retreating.
Reported Security and Incident Account
The incident report described the attackers as unidentified gunmen and did not independently establish who set the school on fire.
Purpose of the attack
Committee on Tribal Unity’s Allegations
CoTU said the attack aimed to provoke a retaliatory Kuki-Zo response, portray Kangpokpi negatively and support pressure to remove Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen.
Reported Security and Incident Account
The reported sequence confirms the gunfight and fire but does not verify CoTU’s claimed motive.
Security response
Committee on Tribal Unity’s Allegations
CoTU urged the Centre and the BJP-led Manipur government to act against the alleged militants and legislators it accused of prolonging communal tension.
Reported Security and Incident Account
Authorities separately conducted a joint operation at a suspected Kuki Liberation Army camp, arresting eight people and recovering seven automatic weapons.
Key facts
- School affected
- Lhungjang Primary School was badly damaged by fire.
- District
- Kangpokpi, a Kuki-Zo-majority district of Manipur.
- Sequence of events
- The fire followed an exchange of fire between gunmen and security forces.
- Alleged attackers
- CoTU alleged involvement by NSCN-IM-ZUF (Kamson) militants.
- Arrests
- Eight people were arrested during a joint operation at Gampum.
- Weapons recovered
- Seven automatic weapons were recovered.
- Security operation participants
- Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Mahila personnel and RAF teams took part in the Gampum operation.
Sources
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