Four Naga civilians shot dead in Manipur highway ambush
The victims were killed in a suspected sniper attack on two vehicles in Ukhrul district on Friday.
Four members of the Naga community were killed on Friday when armed men ambushed two vehicles on NH-202 in Manipur's Ukhrul district, according to reports by The Times of India and ThePrint.
The deceased have been identified as Kapangkhui Raihing, her son Haoleila Raihing, and siblings August Ngalung and Khanmila Ngalung. The victims were travelling in a Bolero Camper and a Swift Dzire near New Heaven village when the attack occurred.
Manipur Police stated that the victims died at the scene from bullet wounds inflicted by unidentified armed individuals. Security forces, including the Army, Assam Rifles, BSF, and Manipur Police, have been deployed to the area to conduct search operations.
The Indigenous People’s Forum alleged the ambush was part of a war against indigenous people by Kuki narco-terrorist elements and called for an investigation into possible security force negligence. The Kuki CSO Working Committee in Ukhrul condemned the killings but denied any involvement by their community.
The ambush follows a day of violence in which a Kuki woman was killed in crossfire near the Senapati-Kangpokpi border. In a separate incident in Ukhrul, a Naga man was wounded in a firing incident.
Since May 2023, ethnic conflict in Manipur has resulted in over 300 deaths. Recent clashes between Kuki and Naga groups have added a new dimension to the ongoing violence in the state.