Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita said that the violence in Manipur will not stop unless around 4,000 weapons, which were looted from security forces, are recovered from common people.
The killing of two men in Manipur's Kangpokpi district yesterday by suspected insurgents had led to a shutdown call, including the blocking of National Highway 2, by an organisation of the Kuki tribes.
Five members of the Kuki-Zomi community were abducted from Kangpokpi and Imphal West districts and at least 9 people – including two police personnel – from the Meitei community were injured in exchange of gunfire.
Police sources said Chingtham Anand Kumar was shot around 9.45 am while he was overseeing the construction of a helipad, jointly taken up by the state force and the BSF.
A senior official of Imphal East district said they will act according to government instructions but are yet to receive any formal request from the tribal body.