Ex-Soldier Beaten to Death in Manipur After Crossing Ethnic Buffer Zone

A former Indian Army soldier was killed after he accidentally crossed the “buffer zone” separating Meitei and Kuki regions in Manipur, which is experiencing ethnic violence. The incident occurred late Sunday night, according to officials on Monday.

Limkholal Mate, a former Havaldar in the Assam Regiment, was found dead in Sekmai, located in the Imphal West district. “Mate was from Motbung in Kangpokpi. It appears that he unintentionally crossed the buffer zone into Sekmai while driving his car last night. His body was discovered by the police this morning, and it seems he was beaten to death,” an officer said. The police have not yet released an official statement on the incident.

In Manipur, central paramilitary forces are stationed along the buffer zones between the Meitei and Kuki areas to prevent conflicts. The Kukis reside in the hill districts, while the Meiteis live in the Valley. Since the outbreak of violence last year, both communities have been cautious about entering each other’s territories.

Additionally, the Committee on Tribal Unity, a civil society group, reported that a woman was killed in a bomb blast on Sunday, but this has not been confirmed by the police.

Violence in Manipur has intensified over the past week, despite efforts to control the situation using drones and rockets.