Manipur: Three Civilians Killed, Four Injured in Firing in Kangpokpi
New Delhi: As violence and ethnic-conflict continues to ravage Manipur, a firing incident, allegedly carried out by suspected militants, left three civilians dead and four others injured in a hill village in Kangpokpi district on Monday (August 31).
According to officials cited by PTI, the attack took place around 9.30 am in N. Teikhang village under the T. Waichong sub-division in the Kuki-majority district. The attackers were reportedly armed with advanced weapons.
The three deceased have been identified as Tingneichin Lhouvum, 40, Hoineineng Lhoujem, 21, and Lamtinthang Lhoujem, 35. While the four injured have been indentified as Nemneichong Lhoujem, 50, Seilun Lhoujem, 70, Deilhing Haokip, 55, and Kamtinsei Chongloi, 38, PTI reported.
Officials also claim that the suspected militants allegedly set fire to several houses during the attack and engaged in heavy firing with armed groups belonging to another community.
The incident, which comes against the backdrop of persisting ethnic cleavages over the population census, has triggered widespread condemnation from Kuki civil society organisations in the district.
The Kangpokpi-based Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) announced a 24-hour total shutdown along National Highway-2, which connects Imphal and Dimapur, beginning at 5 am on Tuesday (September 1). According to COTU, educational institutions, medical and emergency services, banking and electricity departments will be exempt from the shutdown.
Meanwhile, the Twilang Area Kuki Civil Society Organisations Working Committee criticised the killings, describing the incident as an "unprovoked and barbaric attack," PTI reported.
The committee called on state authorities to deploy adequate personnel to ensure the safe transportation of the injured to hospital. It also alleged that around 50 "heavily armed" miscreants indiscriminately fired at civilians, while setting fire to houses.
The latest attack comes amid a 24-hour strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) on Tuesday (September 1) to demand the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census 2027, leading to a breakdown of normal public activity in at least five districts.
Also read: Census Deferred in Manipur Amid Calls For an ‘NRC’
Meitei and Naga civil society groups' demand for NRC has met with resistance from Kuki civil society organisations who have raised concerns about the exercise being misused to disenfranchise and exclude particular communities.
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