New flare-up in Manipur: 3 shot dead in Kuki village

Residents of Khoken village, inhabited by Kukis, alleged that armed men came around 4 am and opened fire in the village, staying there for around two hours.

While police confirmed that three persons were killed and two injured, they did not share details regarding the incident.

Khoken is situated on Kangpokpi district’s border with Imphal West. The village is just a kilometre away from Sangaithel, which falls under Imphal West district.

Residents of Khoken identified the three killed as 65-year-old Domkhohoi, 52-year-old Khaijamang Guite and 40-year-old Jangpao Touthang.

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Nearly 60 persons were killed in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities last Wednesday. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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The clashes broke out during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March,’ called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur, against the demand for inclusion of the state’s Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, following a Manipur HC directive. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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Clashes between the two groups were first reported in an area bordering Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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As the situation worsened the next day, the state’s Home Department issued “shoot-at-sight” orders “in extreme cases”. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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Following these clashes, Chief Minister N Biren Singh held an all-party meeting, and a video conference with security personnel calling for calm and an end to violence. (PTI Photo)

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In this picture, a Gurukul Art student in Mumbai is seen painting an appeal to stop the violence. (PTI Photo)

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The governments of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand have been rushing to get their residents out of Manipur as soon as possible as violence continues to engulf the state. (PTI Photo)

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Over 100 columns of Army and Assam Rifles have been working since 96 hours in order to significantly enhance the surveillance capability in Manipur. (PTI Photo)

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The clashes led the people of Manipur raise slogans marking a protest against the violence at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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The SC has taken note of the assurance given by the Centre and Manipur government that steps were taken to control the situation in Manipur under control. Here, Army and Assam Rifles personnel can be seen assisting people of violence-hit areas, at a relief camp. (PTI Photo)

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The curfew, imposed after the violence broke out, was relaxed from 5 am to 8 am in Imphal West district to allow people buy essential items. (PTI Photo)

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In this picture, health workers can be seen giving free medicines to people from violence-hit areas of Manipur at a relief camp setup by the Assam Government, in Cachar district of Assam. (PTI Photo)

Thongkhup Doungel, a resident of the village and Domkhohoi’s younger brother, said around 40 people had entered the village in the early hours.

“They were dressed in a mix of black T-shirts worn by members of Arambai Tenggol, and police and IRB uniform, and they began firing indiscriminately. The firing went on for around two hours. We vacated the village and went to the nearest CRPF camp and informed them. The attackers left only after CRPF and the Gorkha Regiment came to the village. They left in five Gypsy which we could see were police vehicles,” he claimed.

He said Domkhohoi was killed in the village church where she had gone to pray. “Both men were ordinary farmers, while my sister was a widow,” he said.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) alleged that the attack was perpetrated by valley-based insurgents disguised in Army uniforms. The forum said those who were killed were civilians.

“The Kuki-Zo villagers, not suspecting the attackers’ true identity and assuming it was a combing operation, gave way but were met with automatic rifle fire, resulting in the tragic deaths of villagers,” the tribal body said.

In response to the incident, the Committee on Tribals Unity Sadar Hills, which had earlier decided to lift the blockade on NH-2 to allow the movement of essential goods, decided to reimpose closure of the National Highway.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation has re-registered six FIRs and set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a DIG-rank officer to probe cases related to ethnic violence in Manipur between Meiteis and Kukis that has claimed nearly 100 lives. The SIT comprises 10 officers.