India: Drug money dispute reportedly reason for Manipur violence that killed 4, injured 18

The four men shot dead by militants in the Thoubal district of the northeastern state of Manipur on Monday (Jan 1) were involved in a drug dispute, according to news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). Apart from the fourMeitei Pangal men, 18 were injured (five sustained bullet injuries) in the attacks.

"The incident was seen as the fallout of a dispute over money collected through illegal drug trade," the report claimed.

The Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the political wing of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), accepted that the gunmen belonged to the outfit. RPF added that it had opened an internal inquiry into the incident.

Senior government officials provided a breakdown of the events, explaining that PLA militants entered the minority-dominated Lilong Chingjao area to target a residentknown for several narcotics-related charges.

Soon, amid the kerfuffle, about 1,000 villagers descended near the suspect's home, forcing the PLA militants to secure an exit. However, during the escape, they started firing randomly at the crowd, resulting infour deaths and nearly two dozen injuries.

The family of the four men refused to take the bodies on Tuesday (Jan 2) whilst submitting a memorandum to the state government with a list of demands.

Under the memorandum, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Meitei Pangals requested the government to grant permission to form village protection forces in all areas where the Meitei Muslim community reside in the state. Additionally, thecommittee demanded a probe by theNational Investigation Agency (NIA) into the events of January 1.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also visited theRaj Medicity Hospital where the injured were being treated and later issued a statement saying the culprits would be caught.

"We strongly condemn all forms of violence, and the state government has launched mass combing operations to nab the culprits and the culprit will be punished according to the law. No one is above the law," wrote Singh on X, formerly known as Twitter.

To maintainlaw and order, additional security forces have been dispatched and deployed in the area.

What is happening in Manipur?

Manipur has been rocked by ethnic violence since May last year. Hundredshave been killed while tens of thousands have been displaced. The violence started after a court ordered the state government to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education enjoyed by the tribal Kuki people to the majority Meitei population as well.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Meanwhile, Nagas and Kukisconstitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.

(With inputs from agencies)