Three Kuki men killed in Manipur gunfire exchange
The Kuki Inpi Manipur alleged that Naga militant groups were responsible for the deaths at Kekru Naga village on Saturday.
Three Kuki men were killed during an exchange of gunfire between two unidentified armed groups at Kekru Naga village in Manipur's Noney district on Saturday, according to The Assam Tribune and The Federal.
The deceased have been identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip, and Lamminsang Kipgen. Police confirmed the fatalities occurred at the forested village under the Nungba Police Station.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), which is the apex body of the Kuki tribes, condemned the killings. The organisation alleged that cadres from the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) were responsible for the deaths and claimed the bodies of the deceased were desecrated.
KIM demanded accountability and immediate state action to protect civilians, accusing authorities of failing to provide sufficient security to Kuki-Zo settlements in the district. These allegations against the militant groups have not been independently verified.
Police stated that necessary security measures have been taken in the area. The identities of the groups involved in the gunfire and the specific causes of the incident remain unclear.
The killings follow a reported attack on Tazeikaiphun Naga village on October 29, where several houses and structures were burnt, though no link between the two events has been established.