Manipur: Wife of former Kuki MLA dies in bomb blast while burning household waste; Kuki Inpi rejects talks involving state govt

Guwahati: Wife of a former Kuki MLA, Yamthong Haokip, died after an explosion took place while she was burning wastes at her house at E. Mulam village in Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district.

The explosion took place at around 3 pm on Saturday and the victim, Charubala, 59, received serious injuries. She succumbed to the injuries hours later, Haokip said in his complaint lodged at Saikul police station on Sunday morning.

Haokip urged police to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident and ascertain the kind of explosives that triggered the blast. He, however, did not name anyone as a suspect.

Haokip was a Congress MLA from Saikul Assembly constituency but he contested as a BJP candidate in 2022 Assembly elections. He, however, lost to Kuki People's Alliance candidate.

Kuki Inpi on talks

Kuki Inpi, an apex body of Kukis in Manipur, rejected Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's recent claim that his government would soon engage in talks with representatives of the Kuki-Zo communities to find an end to the Meitei-Kuki conflict. A statement issued by Janghaolun Haokip, information secretary of Kuki Inpi, Manipur, said that Kukis are against engaging in any talks with the Manipur government alleging that it was responsible for the attacks on the Kukis.

"The executive resolution of the Kuki Inpi Manipur for non-engagement with Manipur state government is to reflect our firm resolve that the question of peace and reconciliation with the Manipur state government and the Meiteis without justice for the untold damage and the suffering that we have been forced to endure is a fool's cry, absurd and nonsensical," said the statement.

Union Territory

Kuki Inpi Manipur said that a "Union Territory with legislative powers" is the only justice for the Kuki-Zo people. "It is imperative to clarify that the Kuki Inpi Manipur has not given any individual or entity the mandate to represent the Kuki-Zo people in discussions or negotiations with the Manipur government."

Manipur CM N. Biren Singh recently told the Assembly that 226 people have died and nearly 60,000 others have been displaced due to the Meitei-Kuki conflict since May last year.