Manipur Violence: Death Toll Rises Up To 71, Says Report

Security Advisor to Manipur Government Kuldeep Singh said, "Death figure is now approximately 71," to the media.

According to the reports, he also said, "Yesterday there was an exchange of fire between Manipur commandos and militants. Six commandos got injured and one of them got killed."

Kuldeep Singh mentioned finding three Public Works Department labourers dead in a vehicle in the Churachandpur area. He said, "Three bodies of PWD labourers along with a vehicle in which they were commuting recovered from a 300-metre-deep trench in the Churachandpur area. However, it is being ascertained whether they met with an accident or got killed."

Reportedly it was also said that earlier few locals who had gone to visit their burnt houses to collect some items, went missing after they got attacked by unidentified people.

According to reports, in a similar incident, 11 locals went to visit their burnt homes in?Torbung village at the border of Bishnupur and Churachandpur and were attacked by militants. Among them, 8 managed to escape and reach the Border Security Force camp but 3 are still missing. Singh said, "A massive search operation was launched by Assam Rifles, BSF and CRPF was launched to find them out but we are not able to find them yet."

Singh admitted that the situation in Manipur has improved compared to the beginning as the curfew relaxation was extended to 7 hours, he reportedly said, "Situation in Manipur has improved quite a lot and because of that curfew relaxation has also been extended to 7 hours now. Displaced people living in different camps have been reduced to a bare minimum...Approx 45,000 have been transported to different places... There are no extra flights operating and no stranded passengers at the airport as well."

According to reports, the latest figures for the damages that occurred in Manipur were the death of 71 people, injury of 230 and nearly 1700 houses burnt.