Photo Courtesy: nenow
Imphal: A violent four-hour gunfight between Naga Village Volunteers and Kuki militant factions left one person dead and two others injured in the Kangpokpi district on Saturday. The clash erupted at Langka Naga village, located near the border of Tamenglong and Kangpokpi, when suspected cadres from the Kuki National Front launched an attack from the nearby Lasan hill range at the Langka village volunteers.
Village guards on the Naga side returned fire, leading to a prolonged engagement that forced the attackers to retreat. Before withdrawing, the militants reportedly set several huts on fire and killed livestock. Joint teams of state and central security forces arrived shortly after to conduct search operations and stabilize the area, though regional tensions remain elevated.
In response to the violence, Kuki civil society organizations in Kangpokpi extended an existing shutdown and announced an indefinite economic blockade. This decision follows a previous gunfight on June 9 that resulted in the death of Haogin Lhouvum, an incident that had already prompted community-led protests.
Janghaolun Haokip, a spokesperson for the Kuki civil society groups, confirmed that the blockade will remain in place until the deceased village volunteer is buried and the government acts. Haokip stated that the indefinite economic blockade will continue until authorities ensure concrete measures for the safety and security of Kuki and Zo communities in vulnerable areas.
Comments