Fresh clash surfacesin strife-hit Manipur

Fresh tension flared up in the adjoining area of Imphal East and Kangpokpi district on Sunday after Kuki villagers obstructed Meitei farmers who went to prepare their fields for paddy cultivation.
Several people sustained minor injuries which need no medical attention after the Kuki villagers showered slingshots toward a large number of Meitei who rushed to the spot to protest against the obstruction to cultivation works in their own paddy fields.
The security forces also fired some rounds of tear gas shells in their efforts to take control of the situation. No injury was reported in the action by the security forces.
The incident occurred when around six Meitei farmers from Leitanpokpi went tilling their fields using tractors at their paddy fields at Sadu Lampak located close to Songphel, a Kuki village, around 10 am along with BSF personnel on Sunday.
The BSF personnel accompanied them as the farmers obtained prior permission from the Central security forces deployed in Imphal East district adjoining Kangpokpi district for carrying out their cultivation works.
When the farmers started tilling their fields with tractors, some Kuki villagers obstructed farmers from carrying out cultivation works using abusive words while showering slingshots.
When the news of Kuki villagers obstructing the Meitei farmers from carrying out their cultivation work spread like wildfire and the videos of the incident began circulating on social media platforms, a large number people from neighbouring Meitei villages rushed to the spot.
More Kuki villagers also came the spot.
Despite the presence of a large number of security personnel, the two sides attacked each other with slingshots and stones, leading to minor injuries on both sides.
In some videos, armed miscreants suspected to be Kuki militants were also seen stationed in the forest area close to the site where the confrontation occurred.
In their bid to take control of the situation, the security forces resorted to firing some rounds of tear gas shells.
In the meantime, with more people on the Meitei side converging, the Kuki villagers retreated from the site. However, the Meitei people refused to retreat even though the security forces asked them to leave insisting that the security forces deployed in the area must clarify their clear stand on whether the farmers would be allowed to cultivate their fields.
The tense situation subsided only after the security forces assured stationing a column of the BSF to protect the farmers while they were carrying out their cultivation work.
While acknowledging what had happened in the area on Sunday, Manipur police, in a statement posted on its official Facebook page, stated, the incident occurred today morning around 10 am when a Meitei farmer from Leitanpokpi with a tractor went to plough a paddy field in Sadu Lampak village near a Kuki village.
“It is to inform security forces led by Addl SP IE and other central forces already there at the spot and controlling the situation. Additional forces led by SP and others are also responding to the situation,” it further read.
The police also requested the public not to believe in rumours.