IMPHAL, June 19: In a renewed instance of violence near the foothill areas of Manipur’s Bishnupur district, a local farmer was injured on Thursday afternoon after suspected miscreants reportedly opened fire near a paddy field in Phubala.
The victim, identified as Ningthoujam Biren, was struck on his left forearm when around five rounds were fired from the direction of the nearby hill slopes between 3:15 and 3:20 PM. Biren, who was working alongside two other farmers at the time, was immediately rushed to the district hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
A video circulating on social media shows the injured farmer in visible pain while being tended to by hospital staff, sparking outrage and concern across local communities.
Residents of Phubala and adjacent villages have pointed to the hills as the origin of the gunfire, linking the attack to a pattern of previous assaults allegedly carried out by Kuki militants from elevated positions. Villagers have voiced growing anxiety over the lack of adequate security during farming hours, demanding swift and decisive action to prevent further violence.
Following the incident, police forces reached the area to conduct investigations and speak with eyewitnesses. Although no official statement has been released yet regarding the identity of the attackers, security personnel have been placed on high alert and patrols in the region have been intensified.
Tensions remain high in Phubala, with local bodies urging authorities to ensure the safety of farmers and address the escalating insecurity in the foothill zones.
