Bengal BSF jawan shot dead in Manipur: Deployed on patrolling duty in Ukhrul; Violence has been going on here since February.

A constable of the Border Security Force (BSF) on patrol duty was shot dead in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Friday. According to officials, Constable Mithun Mondal was shot at around 4:30 pm. He was rushed to a hospital in Imphal after being shot, where he died around 6 pm. Officials said Mithun Mondal was a resident of Bhagjan Tola village in West Bengal and was posted in the 170 battalion BSF. There have been incidents of firing in the Kuki village of Mongkot Chepu and the neighbouring Tangkhul Naga area since a sexual clash between two communities in February. The attack took place on a BSF jawan patrolling amid the ongoing tension here. In a statement, the Manipur Police said that security forces are conducting a search operation in the area to nab those behind the attack. The identities of the attackers have not been released. CM Khemchand expresses grief over the murder Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said, "I strongly condemn the tragic death of Constable Mithun Mondal. The sacrifice made by this brave son of West Bengal in the line of duty can never be forgotten. The violence started on the evening of February 7 when a drunken brawl took place at Litan Saraikhong in Ukhrul district, in which a man named Sterling of the Tangkhul Naga community was beaten up. The miscreants then set fire to 25 houses and four government quarters in Litan Saraikhong village of Ukhrul district. Following the violence, curfew was imposed in the entire district. Internet services were suspended for the next five days from 11.30 am on February 10. Security forces have been deployed in the area since violent clashes between Tangkhul and Kuki tribesmen. The 3 main causes of violence between the Kuki-Meitei community are 1. Demand for ST (Scheduled Tribe) status: On 14 April 2023, the Manipur High Court directed the state government to send a recommendation on granting ST status to the Meitei community. The order sparked outrage and violence erupted in the Kuki community. The cookie is already in the ST category. He fears that if the Meitei too get ST status, they will be able to buy land in the hilly areas and this will endanger their cultural, social and geographical existence. Manipur has about 10% of the land area in the Imphal Valley, where the Meitei form the majority. The remaining 90% of the hilly area belongs to Kuki and Naga communities. The area falls under tribal lands and the Meitei cannot buy land here. 2. Demand for a separate cookie administration: The Kuki community is demanding a separate administrative autonomy under the name 'Kukiland' or 'Zoomland'. The Meitei community and the state government consider the demand as a threat to the integrity of the state. 3. Kuki accused of drug smuggling: The Kuki community has been accused of smuggling drugs from Myanmar. The government also accused Kuki of being involved in illegal opium cultivation smuggling, further increasing his distrust of the government. Cookie believes that such allegations are made to defame his community. The Kuki community alleges that the Manipur government (former BJP government) favours Meitei. They also accuse the security forces and police of unilateral action. Also read this news related to the --------------------------------- Manipur violence... 2 children killed in bomb attack in Manipur, protesters attack CRPF camp, 2 killed in retaliatory firing Militants hurled a bomb at a house in Moirang Tronglaobi area of Manipur's Bishnupur district late on Monday night. A 5-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl were killed. The children were sleeping in the bedroom with their mother when the bomb exploded in the house, a police officer said. The mother is injured.