A deadly exchange of gunfire broke out early Wednesday between rival Naga militant groups in the Noney district of Manipur, resulting in the deaths of three cadres. The confrontation unfolded around 4 am in Taodaijang village, situated within the Khoupum area. Members of the Zeliangrong United Front (Jenchui) and a competing armed faction engaged in heavy firing during the pre-dawn hours.
Villagers intervene to halt further bloodshed
Following the violent exchange, local residents recovered the bodies of the three deceased fighters from the encounter site. The escalation triggered acute panic and anxiety across the locality, raising immediate fears of retaliatory strikes and wider conflict. Seeking to defuse the volatile atmosphere, villagers, including a significant gathering of women, mobilized quickly and made their way toward the scene.
Equipped with a public address system, the residents made desperate appeals to the armed cadres to cease hostilities immediately. They urged both groups to stop firing and put an end to the violence before more lives were lost. Specific details surrounding the exact triggers and circumstances that led up to the morning clash remain under verification.
Two armed intimidators nabbed in Imphal East
Meanwhile, in a separate security operation, authorities apprehended two individuals in Imphal East district on allegations of using firearms to threaten and intimidate the public. The arrests took place on Tuesday during a targeted operation carried out by a combined force of Assam Rifles personnel and Manipur Police commandos.
The joint team picked up both suspects from Arapti Mayai Leikai, a locality falling under the jurisdiction of Irilbung police station. Formal police statements confirmed that the action followed complaints of firearm-related coercion against local residents. The two detained men were identified as 47-year-old Pukhrihongbam Shanta Singh and 56-year-old Sapam Premjit Singh.
