Imphal: A farmer in Manipur’s Imphal East district sustained injuries on Monday morning when militants opened fire from nearby hilltop positions, marking the third consecutive day of attacks on farmers working in the fields, according to police reports.
The incident occurred around 9:20 a.m. in the Yaingangpokpi Shantikhongban area, where militants based in adjacent Kangpokpi district targeted farmers harvesting paddy crops. The injured farmer sustained pellet injuries to his hand and was promptly taken to Yaingangpokpi Primary Health Centre, where he is reported to be out of danger. Security forces responded swiftly, engaging in a brief exchange of fire with the militants.
The ongoing attacks have disrupted paddy harvesting, with many farmers in the valley’s peripheral areas now fearful of tending to their fields. A similar incident on Saturday saw a 34-year-old woman killed in Saiton, Bishnupur district, as militants fired from hilltop positions in Churachandpur district. Other attacks on farmers were reported Sunday in the Sanasabi, Sabungkhok Khunou, and Thamnapokpi areas of Imphal East.
These recent escalations are part of a broader ethnic conflict between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hill-based Kukis, which has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands since May of last year. The violence has exacerbated security challenges for farmers, with authorities striving to maintain order amid ongoing tensions.