A day after two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in Manipur by unidentified militants, a senior government official said on Sunday that the target seemed to be Meitei members of the State police. The CRPF unit stationed at the camp had withdrawn few days ago while a platoon stayed back. The militants mistook the personnel at the camp for State police forces, officials said, adding that such attacks and violence are expected to continue if a political solution is not arrived at.
The camp at Naranseina in Bishnupur district belongs to the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) of Manipur Police.
Kuldiep Singh, Security Adviser, Manipur government, said investigations were on and the police will be able to catch the culprits soon. A day ago he had said that this was one of the first instances when Central security forces considered to be “neutral” by both the communities were attacked by militants since the violence began last year. Over 200 people have been killed in Manipur since May 3, 2023, when ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the majority Meitei people erupted in the State.
