New Delhi: A policeman was shot dead by a sniper in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Wednesday (September 13) as the state continues to face severe ethnic conflict and violence.
Ongmang Haokip, a sub-inspector in Manipur Police posted at Chingphei, was killed by a bullet to the head around 1:30 pm on Wednesday, Hindustan Times reported. Two civilians were also reportedly injured in the firing.
“One of our officers died in the incident. He was posted in Churachandpur. We are probing the incident,” the district’s superintendent of police Kartik Malladi said.
A Manipur Police statement stated that Haokip was “martyred in a firing incident by miscreants”.
“Manipur police strongly condemns this dastardly act. His last rites will be performed tomorrow [Thursday] at Churachandpur in a befitting manner,” the statement continues.
Haokip’s brother-in-law Lamboi told Hindustan Times that Haokip had saved people from a mob in Moirang on May 3. “The following day Haokip and his colleague (another sub inspector) were attacked by a mob who damaged their vehicle. He then fled Moirang and came to Churachandpur. Haokip was an honest police officer, who did not even have his own house and lived on rent. Recently he had got a police quarter allotted to him. The government should ensure that the killers are arrested and justice is delivered at the earliest,” Lamboi said.
Haokip’s killing comes a day after three Kuki-Zo men were shot dead in Kangpopki district. Manipur has been witnessing an intense ethnic conflict since May 3. Around 200 people have lost their lives and tens of thousands have been displaced from their home. Ethnic divisions between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities have become extremely stark, with both communities no longer inhabiting the same areas.