Manipur: 3 Kuki-Zo men killed in exchange of fire with unidentified militants

Three Kuki-Zo men lost their lives in an exchange of fire with unidentified armed assailants in Kekru Naga village, located within the Nungba sub-division of Manipur’s Noney district on Saturday. Following the incident, law enforcement authorities escalated security measures but refrained from disclosing the reason behind the gunfight or the identities of those involved.

Unverified accounts suggest that the shooting commenced around 10 am and persisted for a duration of several hours, following 48 hours of intermittent attacks on the Kekru Naga village and adjacent areas by unknown militants. The identities of the deceased are yet to be officially confirmed. The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the representative body for the Kuki tribes, condemned the incident, alleging that the victims were village volunteers and blaming the NSCN-IM and ZUF(K) for the deaths.

The KIM also criticized the authorities for not providing sufficient security to vulnerable Kuki-Zo communities, asserting that the government must ensure the safety of civilians in the affected regions. Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, the organization demanded justice, accountability, and immediate action to prevent further violence.

The police have not publicly identified the perpetrators in their statement confirming the incident.