Five Kuki men killed in two incidents in Manipur
The deaths of five Kuki men in Noney and Senapati districts have triggered fresh tensions between Kuki and Naga groups.
Five men belonging to the Kuki community were killed in two separate incidents in Manipur over the weekend, according to reports from Scroll, Deccan Herald and The Pioneer. The killings have increased tensions between Kuki and Naga groups in the state.
Three Kuki-Zo men, identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen, were killed on Saturday during an exchange of gunfire involving unidentified armed groups in Noney district, Scroll reported. The Kuki Inpi Manipur, an apex body, alleged the involvement of the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) in the killings.
In a separate incident, the bodies of two Kuki youths were recovered on Sunday by security forces in an area along NH-2. The victims, identified as Thangginlun Congloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangsing, 20, had been missing from Taphou Kuki village in Senapati since Wednesday, Deccan Herald reported.
The recovery of the bodies occurred during a joint search operation involving the Manipur Police, CRPF, CoBRA, Assam Rifles and the Rapid Action Force. The Committee on Tribal Unity had called a general shutdown on Sunday demanding information regarding the missing youths.
Both Deputy Chief Ministers, Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho, condemned the killings. While Kuki organisations have alleged the involvement of the Naga armed group NSCN-IM, the group has denied involvement, Deccan Herald reported.