Three persons from the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities were killed in separate gunfights in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Friday, media reports citing police sources said, as tensions escalated between the two groups.
One person was killed in the first attack, carried out in the early hours of Friday in Sinakeithei, a Tangkhul Naga village in Ukhrul. Two armed Kuki persons were subsequently killed in Mullam, a Kuki village, in retaliatory firing, the Hindustan Times reported citing police source.
“Since early morning, the state police have been unable to reach the spot, but three armed individuals died during the gunfights. Border Security Force (BSF) troops reached Mullam village and recovered the two bodies belonging to the Kuki community,” HT reported a police officer from Litan police station as saying.
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The Tangkhul Naga Long said one of the deceased, Horshokmi Jamang, 29, was a village volunteer ambushed while on patrol by armed Kuki cadres under the Suspension of Operation agreement.
Kuki organisations alleged that suspected Naga militants launched a pre-dawn attack on Mullam and nearby villages, injuring several people and burning houses. They said the two killed were village volunteers.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust said the assault occurred around 5.30 am when villagers were asleep.
Naga groups denied the allegations, calling them malicious.
The incident follows an April 18 ambush on Tangkhul Naga civilians on the Imphal-Ukhrul road that left two dead, further heightening tensions.
NVG denies attack on Mullam village
Meanwhile, the Naga Village Guard (NVG), Central Command, has issued a clarification regarding the reported confrontation between armed Kuki and Naga groups in Mullam and Sinakeithei areas in Ukhrul district on Friday.
In a statement, the NVG refuted claims by Kuki groups that Tangkhul Naga volunteers had attacked Mullam village. It said Naga Village Guards stationed between Sinakeithei and Sirarakhong, near Mullam, were on patrol due to repeated attacks on Sinakeithei village and noted movements by Kuki armed cadres under the Suspension of Operation agreement.
The NVG said its personnel came under heavy fire from Kuki armed cadres during the patrol, resulting in the death of Horshokmi Jamang, 29, son of Lungshim Jamang of Chatric Khullen village in Kamjong.
Four volunteers were injured. Ramshang Kamodang, 32, sustained a chin injury, Horrei Khokyar, 26, suffered shrapnel wounds, Shonshok Mahung, 36, was shot in the thigh, and Ramnganing Mahon, 34, was wounded in the leg.
The NVG said its personnel retaliated in self defence before returning to their camps and taking defensive positions.
(With inputs from agencies)