Three people from Tangkul Naga and Kuki communities were killed and several others injured after gun battles broke out in Ukhrul district of Manipur on Friday, police said.
The first fighting broke out in the early hours of Friday in Senakethi, a Tangkul Naga village in Ukhrul, leaving one person dead. Another gun battle began in response in Mawlam, Kuki village, at around 5.30 a.m., in which two armed Kuki persons were killed.
“Since early morning, the state police were unable to reach the scene, but three militants were killed during the exchange of fire. The BSF reached Mawlam village and recovered the two bodies belonging to the Kuki community between Mawlam and Chungvil villages in Ukrul district,” said a senior police officer from Litan police station.
The officer added that some villagers were injured during the clash, but police were unable to confirm the numbers.
One of the deceased has been identified as Horshokmi Jamang (29) from Kamjong district and belonged to the Tangkhul Naga community, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) Naga body said in a statement.
“After movement and disruption along Serarakhong and Senakaithi by Kuki armed cadres of Suspension of Operation (SoO) and other Kuki armed groups, Naga village guards stationed near Sirarakhong went out on patrol when they were ambushed by Kuki cadres,” the statement added.
The Malam village authority claimed in a statement that Tangkul militants attacked the village at around 5.30am on Friday. Two injured villagers were later rescued.
The statement said that gunmen attacked the same village twice on April 19 and 21, respectively. The statement added, “This act of violence reflects a worrying escalation. While previous incidents contributed to escalating tensions, a direct attack on a civilian village represents a dangerous and unacceptable development.”
A statement issued by the Bongpi-Ihang Defense Committee, the Kuki body of Kangbukpi District, said two Kuki volunteers – Littleal Sitlho alias James Kuki of K-Khunom Village and Bauminlun Halaw alias Hetlal Kuki of Haigang Village – of Kangbukpi District were killed in the gunfight.
The Global Naga Forum, based in Kohima in Nagaland, alleged that Kuki militants under the SoO were “seen loitering” with freedom of movement in close proximity to Naga villages such as Sinakeithei, Thoyee, Sharakphung and TM Kasom. “Kuki villages, including Mongkut Chebu, Changkhai, Zalinbong, Songvil and Molin, are allegedly being used as bases of operations by these armed groups,” said the forum, which on April 22 condemned the killing of two Tangkul Naga civilians along the NH-202 highway near TM Kasum in Ukhrul District on April 11.
The forum further claimed that the monthly salary was estimated $6,000 provided to each cadre under the SoO is being misused by some Kuki armed groups to purchase arms and ammunition. She also claimed that the State Commissioner of Interior had proposed the release of more than $30 crore to meet the salary expenses of Kuki SoO cadres of the Ministry.
Tension prevailed in the Ukrul area following an altercation between drunks in the Litan area in February. Following the incident, tensions escalated, leading to several clashes between the two sects and the burning of more than 50 homes belonging to both sects.
On April 11, armed men suspected to be Kuki militants ambushed five Tangkul Naga vehicles traveling along the NH 202 (Imphal-Ukrul) road in Litan district, killing two civilians, including a retired Indian Army personnel.
The Manipur government had said that the Litan ambush incident would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency. In addition, the Manipur Home Minister also told the media that none of the culprits involved in the incident have been arrested.
