Manipur Violence: Three Meitei Men Killed, Three Injured In Suspected Militant Attack In Imphal East

Three Meitei men were killed and three others injured in an attack by suspected Kuki militants near Nongsum Hills in Manipur’s Imphal East district on Monday, raising concerns over a possible resurgence of violence between the two communities after a brief period of relative calm.

The attack took place around 9 am at Khongban Sunurok, under Sagolman police station. The location lies along the boundary between Imphal East and Kangpokpi district, which has a predominantly Kuki population.

Three Killed, Three Injured In Firing

The deceased have been identified as Arubam Ronil, 35, of Nongshum Mayai Leikai; Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 44, of Nongshum Awang Leikai; and Kshetrimayum Sushil, 32, of Uyumpok Mayai Leikai. Sushil reportedly died while being taken to hospital.

The injured have been identified as Meisnam Somendro, 55; Bonson Khingdram, 45; and Ngangom Suraj, 19. All three are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Imphal.

According to Ngangom Darasing, the father of injured Suraj, the villagers had gone to the nearby Nongshum Hills to collect firewood when they came under attack. Citing his son’s account, Darasing said armed men allegedly lying in wait at the location opened indiscriminate fire on the group.

He also claimed that the villagers noticed red ribbons tied to the muzzles of the attackers’ guns.

Survivor Says Gunmen Opened Fire From Multiple Directions

Thokchom Kiranjit, one of the survivors, said the group had visited the hills around 9 am to collect firewood they had gathered a few days earlier and left to dry.

“As soon as we reached the spot, we came under heavy firing from militants who were already hiding there. There was no provocation. The firing came from many directions. We ran for our lives, and fortunately, I managed to escape unharmed,” he said.

The accounts provided by the villagers point to an alleged ambush, although the circumstances of the attack and the identities of those responsible require investigation.

MLA Demands Probe, Removal Of Nearby SoO Camp

Reacting to the killings, local MLA Thokchom Lokeshor Singh alleged the involvement of Kuki-Zo militants and urged the authorities to intervene immediately.

Singh also demanded the removal of Sinai Camp, a camp operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) arrangement, located near the site of the attack.

The MLA further alleged that Assam Rifles personnel had assured villagers that security would be provided while they collected firewood in the area.

Calling for an immediate investigation, Singh said the authorities must establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those responsible and take steps to prevent further violence.

Bodies Brought To Imphal In Protest

Angered by the killings, residents from the Nongsum area brought two of the victims’ bodies to Imphal and placed them outside the chief minister’s bungalow to protest the attack.

Police subsequently retrieved the bodies and deposited them at the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

The protest highlighted the anger among local residents and renewed concerns about security in areas bordering the two communities.

Previous Killing Had Triggered Outrage In January

The latest attack comes amid continuing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur.

In January, a Meitei man who had travelled to Churachandpur district, a Kuki-Zo-dominated area, to visit his wife was allegedly dragged out of her residence and shot dead. A video purportedly showing the killing later circulated on social media, triggering widespread outrage among members of the Meitei community.

The latest killings risk aggravating tensions once again, underscoring the need for a thorough investigation, effective security measures and efforts to prevent further retaliatory violence.