IMPHAL: Five Kuki men were killed in two separate incidents in Manipur over the weekend, triggering fresh tensions between Kuki and Naga groups in the conflict-hit state.
Three Kuki-Zo men were killed in an exchange of fire involving unidentified armed groups at Kekru Naga village in Noney district on Saturday, The Indian Express reported. Police stepped up security in the area following the incident.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur, the community's apex body, alleged that the killings involved the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K). The allegations have not been independently verified.
In a separate incident, security forces recovered the bodies of two Kuki men who had gone missing earlier in the week. The deceased were identified as Paoginlal Hangshing, 20, and Tinginlun Chongloi, 21, Hindustan Times reported.
Their bodies were recovered on Sunday during a joint search operation involving Manipur Police, the CRPF, CoBRA, Assam Rifles and the Rapid Action Force.
Police said search operations were continuing to identify those responsible and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The killings have added to tensions between Kuki and Naga groups, amid the wider ethnic conflict in Manipur that began in May 2023. Reuters reported that the latest incidents have renewed concerns over security in the state.