Imphal, 10 October (HS): Fresh violence in Manipur’s hill districts has claimed at least nine lives and left 14 houses gutted in a series of separate incidents over the past 24 hours, intensifying tensions between Kuki and Naga communities. The violence also prompted a 24-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi district, while security measures were tightened in parts of Kamjong district.

The victims included a Kuki woman killed during a gunfight near Chassad police station, several Naga village guards targeted in separate attacks in Kamjong and Kangpokpi districts and a civilian who was ambushed while travelling by car in Ukhrul district, officials said on Saturday.

The violence began on Friday night when Domkhonei Touthang, 42, a Kuki woman and mother of five, was fatally shot during an exchange of fire near Chassad police station. According to police, security personnel from the civil police, India Reserve Battalion and Border Security Force were conducting an operation to dismantle alleged illegal bunkers in the area when unidentified armed assailants opened fire. Security personnel retaliated, during which Touthang sustained a bullet injury to her upper left chest near the neck and died at the spot.

The operation reportedly took place amid protests over the alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of Chassad village volunteers. The incident subsequently escalated into arson and further exchanges of gunfire, with at least 14 houses belonging to members of both communities set ablaze. Miscreants also allegedly attempted to burn Chassad police station, damaging wooden shops near its entrance.

Gunfire was reported again between around 5 am and 7 am on Saturday. The Kamjong district administration subsequently imposed restrictions on gatherings within a 400-metre radius of Chassad police station.

In another incident, two Naga village guards, identified as Ngachanso Ningshen, 30 and Leishishan Hungyo, 50, were killed in an attack at Ningchou Chingdong village in Kamjong district around 9.30 am on Saturday. The village is located nearly 17 km southeast of Chassad police station. A senior police officer said armed groups operating across the India-Myanmar border might have been involved, although the allegation had not been officially confirmed and an investigation was underway.

Meanwhile, a Naga village volunteer was killed and two others injured in an ambush between Makui and Tapok villages along the Imphal-Tamenglong road in Kangpokpi district around 6 am. The deceased was identified as Machungwangbou, 35, of Thalon village under Tamei subdivision. The injured, Nahason, 29, and Mathangambou, 30, were evacuated to Senapati district headquarters for treatment.

Police said four Naga village volunteers were travelling towards Makui after receiving information about an attack on the village when armed men allegedly lying in wait ambushed them about two kilometres from Tapon village. The attack followed an earlier assault on Makui around 5 am, in which three Naga village guards were killed. One of the victims was reportedly beheaded, while the others were identified as Ajinpou Ringkangmai, Machungammamg and Robart.

Separately, Sandeep Rai, 30, was killed when unidentified armed assailants ambushed his car near Konjang village along National Highway 202 in Ukhrul district around 5.30 am. Rai, a resident of Taphou Senapati Nepali village near Senapati district headquarters, was travelling towards the area when the attack took place. Police recovered his body and registered a case. It was later sent to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal for postmortem examination. The motive behind the killing and the identity of the attackers remained unknown.

The Kuki Women Union headquarters also claimed that Michael Ngamminlen Haokip, 23, was shot dead allegedly by cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), or NSCN-IM and its Eastern Flank faction. The allegation could not be independently verified.

Amid the deteriorating situation, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a Kuki organisation, announced a 24-hour shutdown across Kangpokpi district from 6 pm on Saturday. The organisation cited alleged coordinated attacks in Chassad in Kamjong district, Yaolen in Ukhrul district and along the IT Road in Kangpokpi, alleging the involvement of Tangkhul and Liangmai elements associated with the NSCN-IM.

CoTU condemned violence and intimidation against civilians and urged people to remain vigilant, maintain peace and avoid actions that could worsen the situation. Investigations into the separate incidents are underway as the latest bloodshed raises concerns over further escalation of tensions in Manipur’s hill districts.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash