A seven-year-old boy, his mother and his aunt were burnt alive by a mob in India’s north-eastern Manipur, which has been gripped by a month of deadly ethnic violence.
The child, identified as Tonshing Hangsing, was being taken to hospital in Imphal by his mother Meena Hangsing, in her 40s, and aunt Lydia Lourembam to treat a bullet injury, when they were attacked by a mob on Sunday.
The three had taken shelter at a military camp in the Kangchup district after violence broke out on May 3 between two ethnic groups, the largely Hindu Meiteis, and the Kukis, who are mostly Christians.
There have been fierce clashes over a contentious government proposal to list the majority Meitei community as a tribe.
Close to 100 people have been killed in the strife with around 40,000 displaced in the state, in violence that has seen armed members from both sides attacking each other’s communities.
The child was injured after being hit by a bullet during an attack by suspected Meitei militias on Sunday in the camp of a paramilitary force known as the Assam Rifles, where several Kuki families had taken refuge.
One bullet also hit Ms Hangsing’s hand.
As the child’s condition was critical, the women – both Meitei Christians – decided to rush him to a government-run hospital in the capital city – a Meitei stronghold.
The ambulance was escorted by police personnel and the Assam Rifles militiamen, but as they reached the Iroisemba area, they were allegedly stopped by Meira Piabis, a women-led civil society movement.
The mob, roughly 2,000 strong, alleged that the ambulance was used to ferry Kuki militants before they went on a rampage, attacking police and setting the ambulance on fire – with Tonshing, Meena and Lydia still inside.
“We are in shock. We thought that because Meena and Lydia are Meitei women, they would not be attacked,” Champi Hangsing, a relative of the victims, told The National.
“They [the mob] found out that Tonsing’s mother is from the Kuki dominant area and screamed 'We have caught a Kuki'. Due to their blind anger, they did not distinguish that she was a Meitei,” he said.
“There were no such barriers before. She had been married for 10 years to a Kuki, there was no difference. The division has been created by the Chief Minister.”
Manipur, a mountainous region bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, is governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tribal divisions
About 34 ethnic tribes, making up 40 per cent of the population, have traditionally inhabited hilly areas that comprise 90 per cent of the land.
The Meiteis, who form more than half of the population, dominate the valley areas but are confined to 10 per cent of the state's land.
They have long demanded the community be included on an official list of tribes, giving them access to buy and settle on land in hilly areas. Under law, such rights remain available to only officially recognised groups like the Kukis.
Tribes such as the Kukis and Zomis have expressed their opposition, claiming that the Meiteis already dominate the demographic, political and social landscape of the state.
Over a dozen of Manipur's 16 districts are affected by the violence amid a month-long internet ban across the region.
The mob attack took place less than a week after Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state and assured that peace would be restored.
Mr Shah warned that if “the central government doesn’t put presidential rule in Manipur, thousands of people will die,” suggesting the north-eastern Indian state should come under direct government rule.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
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Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
'Nightmare Alley'
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
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Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
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- On sale: 2026
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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MATCH INFO
Wales 1 (Bale 45 3')
Croatia 1 (Vlasic 09')
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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