At least three “village volunteers” were killed, and five others sustained injuries in a fresh wave of violence in Manipur. The region has been experiencing ongoing turmoil for the past two months due to ethnic clashes between the Meitei community, predominantly residing in the valley, and the Kuki tribe, which predominantly inhabits the hills.
The latest incident occurred around 4 AM in the tribal villages of Langza and Chinglangmei in Churachandpur, located approximately 70 km southeast of Imphal. According to sources, the “village volunteers” were stationed in a makeshift bunker, diligently protecting the area.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who had offered his resignation earlier this week before retracting it, visited the affected area and shared images depicting the situation.
Security forces are present at the scene and have initiated a combing operation to apprehend the militants responsible for the violence.
Expressing their condemnation, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) denounced the attack on the tribal villages and revealed that five villagers had been abducted. In a statement, the tribal group emphasised the pressing need for immediate action to ensure the safety and security of the tribal communities in Outer Manipur. They called for the imposition of President’s Rule in the State.