Kuki woman killed, man injured in Manipur militant gunfight
The exchange of fire occurred near Taphou Kuki village between rival suspected militant groups on Thursday morning.
A Kuki woman was shot dead and a man was injured during a gunfight between suspected rival militant groups in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Thursday, according to reports by Telegraph India, Times of India and Hindustan Times.
The shooting took place around 11 am in a location situated between Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi and Kailengjang in the neighbouring Senapati district.
The deceased, identified as Nengboi Chongloi, was working in a field near the site when she was killed. Local residents and security personnel recovered her body, noting she was holding a sickle.
A man sustained injuries during the gunfire and was moved to a private hospital in Kangpokpi district for treatment.
The violence occurred while the Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) was holding a sit-in protest at the district headquarters. COTU is protesting what it called an unsatisfactory response to its demands following the recent abduction and death of two Kuki-Zo civilians from Taphou Kuki village.
The two youths had gone missing on October 28 and were found dead in Senapati district on November 1. Manipur Police ADGP (Law and Order) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo said on Tuesday that a proposal to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is at an advanced stage.