Guwahati:

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a top body of the Meitei community, on Friday called a “public emergency” and urged the people to remain indoors, claiming “the government failed to provide security to the common people”.

COCOMI coordinator Thokchom Somorendro, announcing the “public emergency” on Friday, said all schools, colleges and educational institutions must be shut indefinitely till the “situation improves”.

He said the security forces had totally failed in discharging their duty and combating Kuki militants.

“Now, the public have to secure themselves. We have declared a public emergency immediately. Because it has now become unsafe for the public to move outdoors,” the COCOMI leader told the media.

Earlier on Friday, thousands of men and women in five districts of Imphal Valley took part in a human chain rally to protest the recent drone and gun attacks in Manipur that killed three people, including a 31-year-old woman and injured 17 others, including the woman’s minor daughter.

Carrying placards and banners, participants in the human chain expressed their discontent over the government’s steps in dealing with Kuki militants.

An elderly man who was offering prayers was killed in a rocket-propelled bomb attack in Manipur’s Moirang town today, the police said. Five others including a 13-year-old girl were injured in the attack on the lakeside town in Bishnupur district, 35 km from the state capital Imphal. She is the second minor injured in attacks in the last five days. The first minor was injured in a drone attack by suspected Kuki insurgents on Sunday, the police and the home department had said.

Guwahati:

After days of lull, fresh exchange of heavy fire has been reported from the border area of Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Meitei-dominated Bishnupur districts.

Manipur Police said two persons died in the firing in villages adjoining Naransena. Seven people sustained bullet or splinter injuries. District Police, Assam Rifles, Army and Central forces deployed in the area responded and brought the situation under control, the police said.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum claimed a village volunteer was killed in firing at villages around Khoirentak area today. He has been identified as 30-year-old Jangminlun Gangte.

Heavy gunbattle is on between Khoirentak and Thinunggei area, sources added.

In another incident, a farmer was shot at by suspected militants from the foothills, sources added.

Salam Jotin, 40, son of Iboton — a resident of Naransena Ward number 8 — was shot while attending his paddy field at Thinungei Maning Leikai this morning.

He sustained bullet wounds on his chest and is receiving medical treatment at private hospital in Imphal. Doctors said his condition is serious.

Over 140 people have died in Manipur since violence flared up in the northeastern state in May.