New Delhi: Six people were killed in Manipur on Saturday, August 5, in targeted killings and action by security forces.

Three people from the Meitei community were killed in Kwakta in Bishnupur district of Manipur in the early hours of Saturday. The police told the news agency PTI that a father-son duo was among the dead. The three were allegedly gunned down while asleep and later "slashed with swords", according to the police.

The three persons were staying in a relief camp but had returned to their residences at Kwakta on Friday, according to reports.

After the killings, a mob gathered at Kwakta and reportedly wanted to "head towards Churachandpur" but was stopped by the police.

“Three persons including one policeman were injured following heavy exchange of fire between state forces and militants near Kwakta on Saturday morning. The policeman sustained splinter injuries on his face. All the three have been brought to Raj Medicity in Imphal for treatment. They are out of danger,” the police said in a statement.

Later in the day, a large group of women took to the streets in Uripok to protest the violence in Kwakta, The Times of India reported. They burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, and demanded that peace be brought to the region.

Later in the day, according to The Telegraph, security forces killed two Kuki men during "retaliatory firing" in two neighbouring villagers – Phoujang and Songdo – which fall in Churachandpur district. “There were seven to eight attackers who reportedly came from Gothol (in Churachandpur), a village on the foothills near Kwakta. Three persons were killed in the Kwakta raid, including a father and son. There was heavy firing and shelling in the security operation that followed. It stopped around 4.30pm, for the time being. The situation is tense,” an official said.

The Times of India, however, reported that the two men in Churachandpur – Johny (30) and Jangkhomang (34) – were killed by retaliatory mob firing. It also said 13 others were severely injured.

In a different but simultaneous attack in Terakhongsangbi, Bishnupur district, one person was killed and three others, including a police commando, received bullet injuries, The Times of India reported.

Ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities have not let up since they began on May 3. Over 150 people are estimated to have been killed, with several thousand displaced.

Note: This article was originally published on August 5 and was republished on August 6 with updates.

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