Imphal: Gunmen killed one Naga village volunteer and wounded two others during an ambush near Tapon village today. The attack occurred at 6 am between Makui and Tapon in the Kangpokpi district. Four volunteers from Tapon village were heading toward Makui after hearing reports of an assault. Kuki militants waited in the brush. They opened fire roughly 2 kilometers from Tapon village. The attackers forced a retreat only after the fourth volunteer returned fire.
The dead man is 35-year-old Machungwangbou from Thalon village. Nahason, 29, took two bullets to his leg. Mathangambou, 30, faces a serious fight for survival after taking seven bullets to his hands and legs. Local volunteers eventually moved the dead and wounded to Senapati. No security forces showed up at the scene by 11 am. Chalwa Police Station personnel claimed they could not access the area.
This violence follows a string of recent attacks in the region. On September 1, militants hit Tapon Khunjao, Tapon Khunou, and Makui Piporam. They burned houses and six vehicles, including a JCB excavator. Pastor N. Luithuibou, 49, suffered a stomach gunshot wound in that strike. By September 23, the violence turned to Makui Thanamba and Makui Khuman. Attackers burned 24 homes there. Local leaders say the latest ambush heightens fear for residents. The lack of security remains a primary point of contention. As one source noted: "The killing and injuries in today’s ambush have renewed concerns over the safety of village volunteers and residents, particularly amid reports of repeated attacks and the absence of security forces at the scene hours after the latest incident."
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