New Delhi: In a fresh wave of violence in the new year – continuing a 20-month period of strife – protests broke out in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on January 3, after a mob of civilians attacked the offices of the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police near the Ima market in the Kangpokpi town.

A photo, of Kangpokpi SP Manoj Prabhakar, with visible injuries on his forehead, has been shared multiple times on social media.

Local residents state that the protests were in the wake of a December 31 crackdown in the region by central forces who allegedly targeted Kuki-Zo women. In the course of this action by security forces, they fired rubber bullets. This led to a woman, 45-year-old Heshi Mate losing her eye. Locals claim that a total of 50 women were hurt that day.

Members of the Kuki-Zo community have been demanding the removal or replacement of central forces personnel at the Saibol village in the Kangpokpi district.

Saibol village is situated approximately two-kilometres away from Twichin, which lies within the ‘buffer zone’ that separates........

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