Photo Courtesy: nenews
Imphal: Armed militants stormed Teikhang village in the Kangpokpi district on Monday morning, killing three residents and wounding four others. Roughly 50 men wielding high-grade weapons descended on the village. They opened fire and set houses ablaze. The violence began between 8 am and 9:30 am.
Kuki civil society organizations identified the dead as 40-year-old Tingneichin, 21-year-old Hoineing Lhujem, and 36-year-old Lamtinthang Lhujem. Four others, Nemneichong Lhujem, 50, Seilun Lhujem, 70, Deilhing Haokip, 55, and Kamtinsei Chongloi, 38, suffered critical injuries. Two village homes burned to the ground. Residents fled into nearby forests as gunfire echoed through the settlement.
The Twilang Area Kuki CSO Working Committee accused cadres from the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K of orchestrating the hit. The Kuki Students Organisation joined the condemnation. They issued a stern demand for government intervention: "The Kuki bodies called for immediate deployment of security forces in the area, safe passage for the injured and urgent medical assistance."
Authorities confirmed security forces arrived later to contain the clashes and restore order. An exchange of gunfire broke out between armed factions during the chaotic event. This tragedy adds to a bloody tally of over 20 deaths since the Naga-Kuki conflict ignited in February. Tensions remain at a breaking point along the IT Road corridor. Recent weeks saw four Liangmai Naga civilians killed on August 27 and two more killed on August 14. Separate unrest also flared in Kakching district Sunday night during a protest regarding the National Register of Citizens.
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