3 people were killed and many more were injured in a violent battle over land in Ukhrul

On Wednesday, the typically serene and peaceful area of Ukhrul witnessed unjustified bloodshed as two villages, Hunphun and Hungpung, clashed over an age-old land dispute. The confrontation claimed the lives of three people and injured more than 20 others. According to official reports, the violence started during the Thawaijao Hungpung Young Students’ Organisation (THYSO) cleanliness campaign on October 2, which began in Thingrasa and ended at Hungpung’s new district hospital.

The issue became heated when the residents of Hunphun protested the event, claiming it as part of their land. The atmosphere became violent when some armed men began firing firearms at each other. Reileiwung Hongray and Silas Zingkhai, Hunphun peasants, were among the dead, as was Worrinmi Thumra, a soldier from Lunghar hamlet stationed nearby. This leaves behind a wife and three children. The police reported that 22 individuals were hurt in the event, including one police officer and two Manipur Rifles men.

One of the injured MR personnel was killed in the accident after receiving a bullet wound to the neck. Four seriously injured people have been taken to JNIMS Hospital in Imphal for specialist medical care. Regarding the violence, Ukhrul Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dinringam Kamei declared an emergency under Section 163 of the BNSS, 2023, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on October 2, 2024. According to this decision, government officials can maintain peace and order and ensure that basic requirements reach the local populace; however, processions for events such as weddings or burials must now be cleared first by authorities.

Executive Magistrates have been deployed over the affected areas. Thingrasa area is under the care of SDC Ukhrul Hanyo Luke Rungsung, and Ngaphar is under the supervision of SDC/BO Riamei Jangmei. In order to curb this violence, state government suspended the internet services in Ukhrul district till 1:20 PM today. The main reasons for making this decision were the possible misappropriation of social media to instigate hate speech and create more violence in already volatile scenarios.