On Sunday afternoon, at approximately 4:25 pm, gunfire erupted in the main market area of Kwakta, a small town in Bishnupur. Manipur police commandos and armed Meitei civilians quickly arrived at the scene, turning the area into a ‘frontline.’
The day before, in the early hours of Saturday, a violent incident occurred near the border between Bishnupur district and Kuki-Zomi-dominated Churachandpur district. The police suspected that the perpetrators were from the Kuki community, causing tension in the town and putting the Muslim Meitei Pangals community at greater risk.
In Kwakta, a small town in the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district, the majority of the estimated 13,500 voters are Muslim Meitei Pangals, with only around 1,500 Meiteis and 15 Kuki-Zomi houses in Ward 8. Although the Muslim Meitei Pangals are not involved in the conflict, the town has been caught in the crossfire for the past three months.
On Saturday, death struck Kwakta as three Meitei men were found killed in their homes in the Meitei Pangal-dominated Kwakta Ward 8. The town has been on edge due to ongoing violence, and many families have moved to a relief camp in Sevla village.
In addition to the deaths, a 28-year-old Meitei Pangal was injured in the intense gunfire on Saturday, bringing the total number of injured community members to 12 since the conflict began. Most injuries were caused by stray bullets, while three people were injured in a suspected IED blast.
The tensions in the area manifested in various ways, with Meitei people mobilizing and some Kuki homes being destroyed. This has led to suspicion and fear among the residents, with many feeling caught in the middle of the conflict.
The situation in Kwakta has led to displacement and heightened tensions between different communities, causing fear and suspicion among the residents.
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