Manipur violence escalates: 3 shot dead in Kuki village by assailants disguised in army uniforms
Assailants dressed in police and IRB uniforms killed three individuals, including an elderly woman, in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, sparking allegations of their involvement.
PremiumThree individuals, including an elderly woman, were tragically killed in Manipur's Kangpokpi district. According to villagers, the assailants were dressed in police and India Reserve Battalion (IRB) uniforms, sparking allegations of their involvement. This incident occurred shortly after Kuldiep Singh, the security advisor to the Manipur government, claimed that the state had remained peaceful for 48 hours. The region has been grappling with ethnic clashes for over a month.
Residents of Khoken village, predominantly inhabited by Kukis, reported that armed men arrived around 4 am and opened fire, remaining in the village for approximately two hours. Although police confirmed three fatalities and two injuries, they did not disclose further details about the attack.
Khoken village is located on the border of Kangpokpi district and Imphal West. It is situated merely a kilometer away from Sangaithel, which falls under of Imphal West district.
The victims were identified by Khoken residents as Domkhohoi (65 years old), Khaijamang Guite (52 years old), and Jangpao Touthang (40 years old). Thongkhup Doungel, a village resident and Domkhohoi's younger brother, recounted that approximately 40 people entered the village in the early hours.
According to Doungel, “they were dressed in a mix of black T-shirts worn by members of Arambai Tenggol, and police and IRB uniform, and they began firing indiscriminately. The firing went on for around two hours. We vacated the village and went to the nearest CRPF camp and informed them. The attackers left only after CRPF and the Gorkha Regiment came to the village. They left in five Gypsy which we could see were police vehicles."
Doungel further mentioned that Domkhohoi was killed inside the village church, where she had gone to pray. He described the two men as ordinary farmers, and his sister as a widow.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) alleged that valley-based insurgents, disguised in army uniforms, were responsible for the attack. The forum emphasized that the victims were civilians.
In response to the incident, the Committee on Tribals Unity Sadar Hills decided to reinstate the closure of the National Highway, NH-2. This decision followed their earlier plan to lift the blockade to facilitate the movement of essential goods.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has re-registered six First Information Reports (FIRs) and established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a DIG-ranked officer to investigate cases related to the ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur. The SIT consists of ten officers and aims to address the conflict that has resulted in nearly 100 deaths.
( With inputs from TheIndianExpress)
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