NEW DELHI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Suspected insurgents on Tuesday allegedly shot dead a senior police officer in India's northeastern state of Manipur, which has faced intense ethnic violence since May this year.
Ethnic clashes broke out between the Kuki and the Meiteis tribes on May 3, and since then, over 175 people have been killed, more than 1,100 injured, and nearly 55,000 people have been rendered homeless. The homeless have been living in makeshift accommodation provided by the state government.
According to media reports, around 5,132 cases of arson have been reported so far, in which 4,786 houses were burnt. Around 386 religious structures, including 254 churches and 132 temples, had been vandalized in arson incidents.
The senior police officer who was killed on Tuesday was overseeing the construction of a new helipad in Manipur's Moreh town. The helipad is being built to transport state forces as the road from the state capital Imphal to Moreh town is said to be blocked at many places by miscreants.
Reacting to the killing of the police officer, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh described it as a dastardly act.
"Deeply saddened by the cold-blooded killing of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chingtham Anand this morning. His dedication to serving and protecting the people will always be remembered. The perpetrators will be brought to justice," posted the chief minister on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Government sources said that after the killing of the cop, the security forces launched an operation in the area to neutralize the threat. ■