Fresh violence in Manipur leaves nine dead, houses burnt (Img: X)
Imphal: Fresh violence has erupted in Manipur, leaving nine people dead and at least 14 houses set ablaze in clashes involving members of the Naga and Kuki communities over the past 24 hours. The violence has heightened tensions and prompted a shutdown in Kangpokpi district.
Officials said on Saturday that the deceased included a Kuki woman killed in a shooting in Kamjong district, Naga village guards killed in separate attacks in Kamjong and Kangpokpi, and a civilian killed in an ambush in Ukhrul district.
The Kamjong district administration imposed restrictions on gatherings within 400 metres of Chassad police station. Meanwhile, the Kuki organisation Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) called a 24-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi district from 6 pm on Saturday.
The violence erupted on Friday night when Domkhoni Touthang, a 42-year-old Kuki woman and mother of five, was killed in a shooting near Chassad police station.
According to police, personnel from the civil police, India Reserve Battalion and Border Security Force launched an operation to remove alleged illegal bunkers near the police station. Unidentified armed attackers allegedly opened fire on the security personnel, who retaliated. Police said local women also attempted to obstruct the operation.
Touthang was shot on the left side of her upper chest, near the neck, and died at the scene. The incident occurred at around 9.35 pm on October 9, during protests against the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of Chassad village volunteers.
Her killing was followed by arson and renewed exchanges of fire between armed groups and security personnel. At least 14 houses belonging to members of both communities were set ablaze. Officials said rioters also attempted to burn Chassad police station, damaging several wooden shops near its entrance. Gunfire resumed at around 5 am on Saturday and continued until approximately 7 am.
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The headquarters of the Kuki Women Union claimed that 23-year-old Michael Ngamminlen Haokip was also shot dead. It alleged that members of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN-IM, and its Eastern Flank faction were responsible. The allegation could not be independently verified.
In a separate attack at around 9.30 am on Saturday, two Naga village guards were killed in Ningcho Chingdongdong village in Kamjong district. They were identified as 30-year-old Ngachanso Ningshen and 50-year-old Leishishon Hungyo. The village is around 17 kilometres south-east of Chassad police station.
A senior police officer told India Today on condition of anonymity that armed groups operating along the India-Myanmar border could have been involved. There has been no official confirmation, and the investigation is continuing.
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In Kangpokpi district, a Naga village volunteer was killed and two others injured in an ambush allegedly carried out by a suspected group of armed Kuki militants.
The attack occurred at around 6 am on Saturday on the Imphal-Tamenglong road, between Makui and Tapok villages, about 15 kilometres north-east of Chalva police station. More than a dozen houses were reportedly set ablaze.
Police identified the deceased as 35-year-old Machungwangbou of Thalon village in the Tamei subdivision. The injured were identified as 29-year-old Nahason of L Pabram village and 30-year-old Mathangambou of Kadi village.
According to police, four Naga village volunteers were travelling from Tapok to Makui after receiving information about an attack on Makui village when armed men ambushed them around two kilometres from Tapok. Machungwangbou died at the scene. Nahason sustained gunshot wounds to both legs, while Mathangambou injured both legs and an arm. The injured were taken to Senapati district headquarters for treatment.
In another incident, 30-year-old Sandeep Rai was killed in an ambush by unidentified armed attackers near Konjan Konjang village on National Highway 202, which connects Imphal to Nagaland via Ukhrul.
Police said the attack took place at around 5.30 am on Saturday, about 12 kilometres north-west of Litan police station. Rai, a resident of Taphou Senapati Nepali village near Senapati district headquarters, was travelling in his car when the attackers struck.
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Police recovered his body and registered a case. It was later taken to the mortuary at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal for a post-mortem examination. The motive for the killing and the identities of those responsible remain unknown.
Amid the escalating violence, CoTU announced a complete 24-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi district from 6 pm on Saturday.
