A fresh wave of violence has gripped Manipur after suspected militants launched two separate deadly attacks across the Tamenglong and Noney districts on Sunday, leaving at least four people dead, including two women. According to police reports, the first incident unfolded in the early hours around four in the morning, while the second strike occurred roughly twelve hours later, plunging the local communities into deep grief and apprehension. These tragic developments have once again brought the fragile security situation in the region into sharp focus, raising renewed concerns over the safety of innocent civilians amidst ongoing ethnic tensions.
The Initial Attack in Tamenglong District
The first assault took place at Tollen Kuki village in Tamenglong district, an area situated close to National Highway-37 that connects Imphal to Jiribam. Police stated that armed suspects descended upon a residential home around four in the morning and opened indiscriminate fire. The violence instantly claimed the life of Lhingngai Lhangum, while her husband Seineh Lhangum and their newborn baby sustained critical injuries. Security forces rushed to the village soon after receiving information and arranged medical assistance for the wounded victims. However, officials later confirmed that Seineh succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a hospital in neighbouring Silcher in Assam, compounding the tragedy for the grieving family.
Strong Condemnation From Local Village Authority
The violent episodes drew immediate and sharp rebukes from local administrative bodies. The Caimai Village Authority issued a public statement strongly condemning the assault, labelling it a deliberate and malicious attempt to sow discord and division among different communities residing in the region. The village authority urged the state administration to conduct an impartial probe into the matter, identify the perpetrators behind the carnage, and bring them to justice swiftly to ensure accountability and restore a sense of security among the residents.
The Second Strike in Noney District Within Twelve Hours
Barely twelve hours after the first tragedy, a second armed assault struck Noney district, specifically targeting Longpi village under the jurisdiction of Nongba police station. Around 3:30 pm on Sunday, heavily armed assailants opened fire, killing a woman and a man on the spot. Police identified the deceased victims as Julie Gangte and R. Gangte. The daylight killings further escalated the existing fear and tension across the hill sectors, leaving ordinary residents scrambling for safety as the cycle of violence continued unabated.
Reactions From Political Leaders and Officials
Expressing deep anguish over the bloodshed, Chief Minister Y. Khelemchand Singh strongly condemned the killings. In an official statement released by the Chief Minister's Office, he stated that such cowardly acts of violence against innocent citizens are utterly unacceptable and have no place in a civilised society, while offering condolences to the bereaved families. BJP leader and former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, alongside Naga Peoples Front MLA Awangbow Newmai, also voiced their strong disapproval over the attack on Lhingngai. N. Biren Singh wrote on social media that the incident at Tollen Kuki village was deeply disturbing and heart-wrenching, adding that safeguarding innocent lives must remain the utmost priority. Newmai echoed similar sentiments, describing the targeting of unarmed people as a cowardly act that undermines the fragile peace process.
Authorities noted that these incidents coincided with 'Sahnit Ni' or Kuki Black Day, a remembrance day observed annually by the Kuki community on September 13 to mourn those killed during the ethnic clashes of the 1990s between Kukis and Nagas. This fresh bloodshed comes against the backdrop of a prolonged ethnic conflict that erupted in May 2023 between the valley-based Meitei community and hill-based Kuki groups. The ongoing strife has claimed at least 306 lives so far, with 49 individuals remaining missing and thousands displaced from their homes.
