Five Kuki men killed in Manipur within 24 hours
Three men died in a gunfight in Noney district while two others were found dead after going missing.
Three men from the Kuki community died during a gunfight between rival armed groups at Kekru Naga village in Manipur's Noney district on Saturday. The police stated that the exchange of fire lasted for several hours in the forested area.
The deceased were identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen, all from Churachandpur district. The Kuki Inpi Manipur, an apex body, described the three men as village volunteers and alleged that Naga militant groups were responsible for the killings.
On Sunday, the Manipur Police reported that two Kuki civilians were found dead. These individuals had been missing from Taphou Kuki village since Wednesday.
The deaths have increased the total number of people killed in clashes between Naga and Kuki groups since February to 68. This follows ongoing tensions in the state.
In Imphal, thousands of people from Meitei organisations held a rally demanding the scrapping of the Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki-Zo armed groups. Naga civil society organisations also held rallies in several hill districts to support the demonstration and demanded the termination of the agreement, accusing Kuki-Zo militant groups of involvement in violence.