Woman killed and two injured in Manipur village firing
The incident occurred on Thursday morning at Taphou Kuki village near the Senapati-Kangpokpi district boundary.
A 40-year-old Kuki-Zo woman, Kimneineng Chongloi, was killed and two others were injured during a firing incident at Taphou Kuki village in Manipur on Thursday morning, according to The Indian Express. The incident took place around 11 am while villagers were harvesting paddy.
The deceased, wife of Thanggou Chongloi, died on the spot after sustaining bullet wounds. Two other residents of the village, Sehngam Chongloi, also known as David, and Lamkhochon Chongloi, sustained bullet injuries and are undergoing treatment at Kangpokpi District Hospital.
NENow reported that the firing began near Kailengjang along the inter-district boundary and was an exchange of gunfire. Local sources alleged that militants opened fire on Naga cultivators, prompting retaliatory gunfire.
The gunfire caused panic, forcing farmers to abandon their work and flee. Residents cautioned travellers against using the affected stretch of National Highway-2 (NH-2), and authorities advised commuters to avoid non-essential travel along the route.
This incident follows the disappearance on October 28 and subsequent death on November 1 of two Kuki youths, Paoginlal Hangsing, 20, and Tinginlun Chongloi, 20. Their bodies were recovered from an area east of NH-2 along SP Road.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had visited Taphou Kuki village a few days before the shooting. Police are investigating the circumstances of the firing.