A brutal outbreak of violence shattered the morning calm in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Monday, leaving two local residents dead and another person seriously wounded. According to officials, a group of suspected militants launched an aggressive assault on a village, employing sophisticated weaponry to open indiscriminate fire on the inhabitants. The sudden and intense violence has sent shockwaves through the region, prompting an immediate deployment of security forces to contain the volatile situation and restore order.
Morning assault hits N Teikhang village in Kangpokpi
The deadly incident unfolded at approximately 9:30 am in N Teikhang, a Kuki-inhabited village falling under the T Waichong subdivision, district authorities reported. Armed individuals arrived at the settlement and allegedly began shooting indiscriminately with high-powered weapons. The gunfire claimed the lives of two villagers, identified as 35-year-old Lamtinthang and Neichin. Additionally, a 65-year-old resident named Seilun sustained bullet injuries during the chaotic assault and required medical attention.
Houses torched as terrified residents flee to forests
The scale of the destruction extended beyond the casualties, as several residential houses were reportedly set ablaze amid the ongoing firing. Frightened villagers, desperate to escape the line of fire, fled their homes en masse and sought shelter in nearby forests while the gun battle persisted. Reports from the area also indicated that an active exchange of gunfire broke out between armed groups belonging to two different communities, further escalating the danger in the locality.
Security reinforcements rushed as ethnic tensions persist
In response to the escalating crisis, security forces were swiftly rushed to the village to suppress the violence and bring the situation under control. This latest bloodshed follows closely on the heels of a previous ambush in the Kangpokpi district, where suspected militants targeted a vehicle, killing four Naga civilians and injuring another. Authorities note that more than 20 individuals have lost their lives in separate shooting incidents since ethnic clashes erupted between Naga and Kuki communities in the state back in February, with numerous homes torched during the prolonged unrest.
Protest turns violent over NRC demands in Kakching
Meanwhile, parallel unrest surfaced in Kakching district on Sunday night, where a torchlight vigil organized to demand an update to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) ahead of the Census exercise took a violent turn. Protesters allegedly pelted security personnel with stones, prompting law enforcement to deploy tear gas shells to disperse the agitated crowd and regain control over the area.
