Kuki woman killed in Manipur gunfight near Kangpokpi-Senapati border
A Kuki organisation has called for a 48-hour total shutdown in Kangpokpi district following the death of a woman.
A Kuki woman was shot dead and two men were injured during a gunfight between suspected rival militant groups in Manipur on Thursday, according to reports from The Pioneer and The Sentinel.
The exchange of fire occurred around 11 am near Taphou Kuki village in Kangpokpi district and Kailengjang in Senapati district.
The deceased has been identified by a Kuki organisation as Kimneineng Chongloi, 41, of Taphou Kuki village. She was reportedly working in a paddy field when she was shot.
Preliminary reports stated that suspected Kuki militants opened fire on Naga cultivators, which triggered retaliatory firing. A Kuki organisation alleged that members of the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K shot the woman.
Two men, identified as S David Chongloi and Lamkhochon Chongloi, sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals in Kangpokpi district. Police have advised against non-essential travel along National Highway 2.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the killing as a "heinous act of violence" and called for a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation. Police have deployed additional forces, including the CRPF, BSF, and Assam Rifles, to the area and have initiated an investigation.