Three people belonging to the Kuki community were killed in a gunfight between rival armed groups in Manipur’s Noney district on Saturday, police said.
The exchange of fire broke out at Kekru Naga village on Saturday morning and continued for several hours in the forested hill area, leaving three people dead.
Police said sporadic firing had been reported in the area since October 29 between unidentified groups suspected to belong to the Naga and Kuki communities. Saturday’s incident was the first in three days to result in fatalities.
“Necessary security measures have been taken in the area,” police said.
The deceased were identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen. All three were residents of Churachandpur district, police said.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body representing the Kuki community, condemned the killings and alleged that Naga militant groups were responsible. It called for justice, accountability and immediate action by the state government.
KIM said the three men were village volunteers and blamed the state government for failing to provide adequate security to vulnerable Kuki-Zo communities.
“The murder of these three brave village volunteers in Noney district is the direct consequence of the state’s reckless refusal to provide adequate security to vulnerable Kuki-Zo communities,” the organisation said in a statement.
Police said they recovered four automatic assault rifles, a single-barrel rifle, a drone, ammunition and improvised explosive devices from the site.
Meitei and Naga Groups Hold Rally in Imphal
Meanwhile, a large rally jointly organised by Meitei and Naga organisations was held in Imphal on Saturday. The gathering was among the largest public demonstrations in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out in 2023.
The rally was organised by several groups, including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), United Naga Council (UNC), Joint Tribes Council (JTC), Foot Hills Naga Coordinating Committee (FNCC), Naga People Union, Imphal, and various Naga youth and student organisations.
The demonstration came days after an ambush targeting 14 Meitei men left three dead and triggered protests across the state.
Officials said the rally began at Tiddim Ground and concluded at Thangmeiband Athletic Union ground in Imphal West. Police erected barricades at Keisampat junction and near Lok Bhavan, the chief minister’s office and the BJP state office.
A senior police officer said no untoward incident was reported during the rally.
The ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities has claimed at least 306 lives since 2023, according to the figures cited in reports. Clashes between Kuki and Naga groups have also killed around 50 people since February.
