Five Kuki men killed in Manipur within 24 hours
Tensions have escalated in the state following the deaths of three men in Noney and two others found missing from Senapati.
Five men belonging to the Kuki community were killed in Manipur within a 24-hour period, according to reports from Deccan Herald, Scroll and Deccan Chronicle. The fatalities include three men killed in a gunfire exchange in Noney district on Saturday and two others whose bodies were recovered on Sunday.
The three men killed in Noney were identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen, all from Churachandpur district. Police described them as village volunteers and reported recovering automatic assault rifles, a drone, ammunition and improvised explosives from the site at Kekru Naga village.
On Sunday, Manipur Police said the bodies of two Kuki youths, Thangginlun Congloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangsing, 20, were recovered from an area along NH-2. The two had been missing from Taphou Kuki village in Senapati since October 28.
Kuki organisations, including Kuki Inpi Manipur, alleged the involvement of Naga armed groups such as the NSCN-IM and Zeliangrong United Front-Kamson in the killings. The NSCN-IM has denied involvement in the incidents.
The deaths occurred as Meitei and Naga organisations held rallies in Imphal and other districts demanding the scrapping of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki-Zo armed groups. The SoO is a ceasefire arrangement signed in 2008 between the government and Kuki militant outfits.
Security has been increased in Naga and Kuki dominated areas. Clashes between Naga and Kuki groups have resulted in 68 deaths since February, according to Scroll.