Five men from the Kuki community have been killed in Manipur within about 24 hours, according to reports by Scroll.in and other outlets. Three were killed on Saturday in an exchange of gunfire between unidentified armed groups in Noney district, a police official told Scroll. A day later, two Kuki civilians who had gone missing from Taphou Kuki village on Wednesday were found dead, Manipur Police said in a social media post.
Key points
- Three Kuki men were killed in gunfire in Noney district on Saturday; two missing Kuki civilians were found dead a day later.
- The deaths raise the toll in Naga-Kuki clashes since February to 68.
- Meitei groups rallied in Imphal demanding the scrapping of the Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki-Zo armed groups.
- At least 306 people have been killed in Manipur since ethnic violence began in May 2023, the Assembly was told in September.
What happened
The Hindustan Times, quoting the police, identified the three men killed on Saturday as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen. All three were from Churachandpur district. The Kuki Inpi Manipur, an apex Kuki body, said they were village volunteers.
The group blamed the state for the deaths. As quoted by the Hindustan Times, it said the killings were "the direct consequence of the state's reckless refusal to provide adequate security to vulnerable Kuki-Zo communities."
On Saturday, before the two civilians were found dead, Kuki-Zo community members in Kangpokpi district joined a rally organised by the Committee on Tribal Unity. They demanded the safe release of the two men, who were allegedly abducted by armed militants last week.
Rallies over the Suspension of Operations pact
The killings came as thousands of people from Meitei organisations held a rally in Imphal, The Hindu reported. They demanded that the Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki-Zo armed groups be scrapped. Naga civil society organisations held rallies in several hill districts in support. They also want the agreement ended and accuse Kuki-Zo militant groups of being involved in violence.
The agreement was signed in 2008 by the Centre, the Manipur government and two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits, the Kuki National Organisation and the United Peoples Front. Under it, security forces and the militant groups are barred from launching operations against each other. The militant groups must follow the laws of the land and stay in designated camps identified by the Union government.
Wider background
Manipur has seen ethnic violence since May 2023, when clashes broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities. The Assembly was informed in September that at least 306 people had been killed and 49 were missing since then. About 60,000 people were displaced. Of them, 36,000 have been resettled, while 24,000 remain in relief camps across the state.
Tensions between the Kuki and Naga communities have also grown since February. The latest deaths take the toll in clashes between the two groups to 68. The source does not say what steps authorities plan next.
