Armed communities in Manipur, India amid ethnic violence

(5 Jul 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Near Churachandpur, Manipur – 20 June 2023
1. Various of armed Kuki carrying guns and walking towards bunkers
2. Armed Kukis at bunker
3. Mid of Kukis at bunker holding arms
4. Close of gun
5. Mid of bunker of Meitei seen from Kuki bunker
6. Various of Zuan Veiphei, armed Kuki, inside bunker
7. Close of Veiphei holding gun
8. Veiphei carrying gun and walking out of bunker
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuan Veiphei, 32, armed Kuki:
“The only thing that cross our minds is will they (Meitei) approach us, will they come and kill us? So, if they happen to come with weapons, since we are not invading them, they are the ones who is coming inside our village, we just have to forget everything and protect ourselves. The only thing is survival so to say. We just have to survive.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Phayeng, Manipur – 22 June 2023
10. Meitie villagers gathered, UPSOUND Gunfire
11. Close of man holding walkie talkie
12. Armed Meitei walking towards gunfight location, villagers gathered

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sugnu, Manipur – 21 June 2023
13. Close of mobile phone fitted on back of telescope at a Meitei bunker showing Kuki’s sitting outside their bunker
14. Various of armed Meiteis at bunker
15. Man holding gun walking to take his position in bunker
16. Various of Leishanz Singh, armed Meitei, holding gun inside bunker
17. Pan from bullet strap on shoulder to man holding gun inside bunker
18. Close of gun barrel pointing out of bunker through sandbags
19. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Leishanz Singh, 33, armed Meitei:
“The Kuki militants bring good guns. Our villagers have one, two or three licensed guns and are protecting our village. They are troubling us a lot. Where and when it will start (firing)?”
20. Various of destroyed homes
21. Villagers pushing cart carrying salvaged items from destroyed homes

ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Delhi – 28 June 2023
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Sushant Singh, senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research in India and an Indian army veteran:
"So in classical parlance, this is as close to civil war as it is because these are not militant groups, these are not terrorists, these are not organized groups. These are local people, people of one ethnicity, fighting against other ethnicity. And where the state seems to have been divided on ethnic lines, the state police, whether it's a Meitei or a Kuki , they're divided. So the fact that everyone is divided and everyone is fighting each other actually makes it as close to civil war as it could be."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Near Churachandpur, Manipur – 20 June 2023
23. Armed Kuki walking out of bunker
24. Armed Kukis walking towards bunker
25. SOUNDBITE (English) Zuan Veiphei, 32, armed Kuki:
“Of course we are scared. Who’s not afraid of dying? We all are afraid of dying. But when there is no option, what do we have? What option do we have? Will I just leave my village, will I just leave my mother, my brother, my sister, my villagers? So I just have to stand here.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sugnu, Manipur – 21 June 2023
26. Wide of empty town
27. Kuki bunker on hilltop
28. Various of armed Meitei inside bunker
29. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Leishanz Singh, 33, armed Meitei:
“It’s very difficult. I cannot tell you how difficult it is, what’s the use? We cannot sleep or eat. We just want to lead our normal lives.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Siden, Manipur – 20 June 2023
30. Wide of security forces patrolling
31. Security force personnel walking, damaged building
32. Security forces outside a burnt home
33. Burnt furniture inside home
35. Clock on wall




#manipur #armed

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