Five Kuki men killed in Manipur within 24 hours
Three men died in a Noney district gunfight while two others missing from Taphou Kuki village were found dead.
Five men from the Kuki community were killed in Manipur within a 24-hour period, according to reports from Scroll, Deccan Chronicle and Deccan Herald. Three men died during a gunfight between unidentified armed groups in Noney district on Saturday, while the bodies of two others were recovered on Sunday.
The three men killed in Noney were identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen. Police stated they were village volunteers from Churachandpur district. Security forces recovered ammunition, a drone, improvised explosives and several rifles from the site at Kekru Naga village.
The two other victims, identified as 21-year-old Thangginlun Congloi and 20-year-old Paoginlal Hangsing, had been missing from Taphou Kuki village since October 28. Their bodies were found by security forces near NH-2 in an area connecting to the Senapati district.
Kuki Inpi Manipur blamed Naga separatist outfits, including the NSCN-IM and Zeliangrong United Front-Kamson, for the killings. The NSCN-IM has denied involvement. The Kuki Human Rights Forum has called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of Naga armed groups.
The deaths occurred as mass protests took place in Imphal and other districts. Meitei and Naga organisations held rallies demanding the termination of the Suspension of Operations agreement involving Kuki-Zo militant groups. Deputy Chief Ministers Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho condemned the killings.