Two Kuki volunteers, one Naga village guard killed; security tightened as ethnic conflict intensifies
Imphal: Violence in Manipur’s Ukhrul district intensified on Friday, with three more deaths reported, taking the toll to five since tensions between Kuki and Naga groups escalated on April 18.
According to official sources, two Kuki village volunteers were killed in suspected militant attacks at Mullam and Shongphal villages. Their bodies, bearing bullet wounds, were recovered during a security operation conducted in the evening. Additionally, two houses were found set on fire, indicating further escalation on the ground.
Earlier in the day, a Tangkhul Naga village guard, Horshokmi Jamang (29), was shot dead at Sinakeithei village. Officials suspect he was targeted by Kuki militants. While the identity of the Naga victim has been confirmed, authorities are still working to establish the identities of the two Kuki volunteers.
Meanwhile, security forces have been deployed in greater numbers across sensitive locations to contain the situation. The latest incidents follow the April 18 ambush near T.M. Kasom along National Highway-202, where two Naga civilians were killed, triggering protests and shutdowns in Naga-dominated areas.
Civil society groups, including Tangkhul Naga Long and Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, have urged restraint. However, tensions remain high, reflecting the fragile state of relations between the communities amid Manipur’s ongoing ethnic conflict.
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