Tension gripped three hill districts of Manipur on Sunday as the death toll in a fresh round of clashes between Naga and Kuki communities rose to nine, including a woman, officials said.
Toll triples since Friday
The deaths, reported on Friday and Saturday, included six Nagas, two Kukis and a Gorkha farmer — making the latest outbreak one of the deadliest episodes of violence in Manipur this year, according to officials cited by IANS. No fresh incidents were reported on Sunday in the three affected districts: Kamjong, Ukhrul and Kangpokpi.
The violence erupted after a 42-year-old woman, identified by police as Domkhonei Touthang, a mother of five, was killed in Chassad village in Kamjong district on Friday night. She sustained a gunshot wound near her neck and died within minutes, a police official said in Imphal. Although Kamjong has a predominantly Naga population, Chassad is a Kuki-majority village.
Her killing triggered an exchange of fire between armed groups of the Kuki and Naga communities that continued into Saturday, officials said. The cause and full sequence of the violence remain under investigation; authorities have not attributed responsibility beyond the reported sequence of events.
CM's appeal and security build-up
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to public leaders, civil society organisations and all sections of society to exercise restraint and cooperate in defusing the situation, urging them to prioritise peace, dialogue and harmony. He said he had instructed the authorities to take immediate and effective steps to control the situation, restore order and ensure the safety of all citizens.
Security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces personnel and Manipur Police, have intensified patrolling and search operations in the three districts to prevent further escalation, officials said.
Sources:
- The Statesman: Manipur: Tension grips three hill districts as toll rises to 9; CM appeals for peace
Toll triples since Friday
The deaths, reported on Friday and Saturday, included six Nagas, two Kukis and a Gorkha farmer — making the latest outbreak one of the deadliest episodes of violence in Manipur this year, according to officials cited by IANS. No fresh incidents were reported on Sunday in the three affected districts: Kamjong, Ukhrul and Kangpokpi.
The violence erupted after a 42-year-old woman, identified by police as Domkhonei Touthang, a mother of five, was killed in Chassad village in Kamjong district on Friday night. She sustained a gunshot wound near her neck and died within minutes, a police official said in Imphal. Although Kamjong has a predominantly Naga population, Chassad is a Kuki-majority village.
Her killing triggered an exchange of fire between armed groups of the Kuki and Naga communities that continued into Saturday, officials said. The cause and full sequence of the violence remain under investigation; authorities have not attributed responsibility beyond the reported sequence of events.
CM's appeal and security build-up
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to public leaders, civil society organisations and all sections of society to exercise restraint and cooperate in defusing the situation, urging them to prioritise peace, dialogue and harmony. He said he had instructed the authorities to take immediate and effective steps to control the situation, restore order and ensure the safety of all citizens.
Security forces, including Central Armed Police Forces personnel and Manipur Police, have intensified patrolling and search operations in the three districts to prevent further escalation, officials said.
Sources:
- The Statesman: Manipur: Tension grips three hill districts as toll rises to 9; CM appeals for peace
