Amid rising ethnic tensions and attacks on farmers, the Manipur govt has announced security measures for vulnerable farming areas. Recent violence in Bishnupur and Churachandpur has triggered investigations and deployments to ensure cultivator safety during the critical Kharif season, as authorities crack down on militant activities statewide.
The Manipur government on Friday announced that it will deploy additional security forces in vulnerable areas to ensure the safety of cultivators during the ongoing Kharif season. This move comes just a day after a farmer was shot at in the conflict-ridden Bishnupur district.
A senior police official confirmed that security forces would be mobilized to protect farmers working in their paddy fields and to prevent any untoward incidents. The decision was made following violent occurrences in Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts on Thursday, which have raised renewed concerns over ethnic tensions and agricultural disruptions in the state.
In Bishnupur district, a farmer named Ningthoujam Biren Singh from Phubala Awang Maning Leikai was shot in the left arm by an unidentified armed assailant while tending to his paddy field at Phubala Maning. Singh, who belongs to the Meitei community, was rushed to the Bishnupur District Hospital and later referred to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for further treatment. His condition is now reported to be stable.
Soon after the incident, a massive search operation was launched by combined security forces across Langchingmanbi, Heichanglok, and western Phubala village areas. However, the operation encountered resistance when unknown armed individuals opened fire at the security personnel. The forces retaliated, leading to a deadly exchange of gunfire.
During the crossfire, a woman identified as Hoikholhing Haokip from Langchingmanbi village sustained fatal injuries. Haokip, who belonged to the Kuki tribal community, was the wife of the local village chief. The incident has further fueled ethnic unease in a region already scarred by over two years of ethnic violence.
The Manipur police confirmed that cases have been registered in connection with these incidents, and investigations are actively underway. Combined forces continue their efforts to locate and apprehend those responsible. Officials stated that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.
Security arrangements related to farming activities in vulnerable zones are being reviewed, and authorities have urged the public to maintain peace and refrain from circulating unverified information. “Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” the official statement read.
This violence follows a similar tension that erupted on June 15 in the Imphal East district, where a dispute over land ownership led to a confrontation between members of the Meitei and Kuki communities. A Meitei farmer from Leitanpokpi had attempted to plough a paddy field in Sadu Lampak village near a Kuki settlement, which resulted in objections from the local Kuki villagers. The situation was brought under control after additional security personnel were deployed to the area.
A senior agriculture department official emphasized the growing challenges for farmers in the region. “As the peak agricultural season approaches, unresolved land disputes and inadequate security for farmers are exacerbating ethnic divisions and increasing unrest in Manipur,” he said. The Kharif or monsoon season, critical for paddy cultivation, runs from June through October.
Due to ongoing ethnic violence, farming in both the Imphal valley and surrounding hill districts has been severely disrupted over the past two years. This has had a cascading impact on food production and rural livelihoods in the conflict-hit state.
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Meanwhile, in a separate development, security forces have arrested eight militants, including a female cadre, from various banned outfits in a 24-hour span. The arrests were made across Imphal West, Tengnoupal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts. Among the arrested were two active members of the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA), who were apprehended at Wangoi Bazar in Imphal West. Authorities recovered several incriminating materials from them.
As Manipur continues to grapple with both insurgent threats and communal strife, the government’s renewed focus on farmer safety could play a crucial role in easing tensions and reviving agricultural activity in the troubled region.
