Imphal: A young school going Naga teenage boy was shot dead in an ambush by Kuki militants while walking towards Tamei on Monday morning, according to multiple local sources, with villagers later recovering his young lifeless body from the roadside.
The victim has been identified as Nk Wiphenbou, aged approximately 15 years, a resident of Takou (Nkou Nri) Naga village.
According to local sources, Wiphenbou was walking alone in shorts and slippers towards Tamei at around 10:30 a.m. to purchase essential food items when he was ambushed between Takou (Nkou Nri) and Tamah (Malek). Local sources identified the attackers as Kuki militants.
Nearly 20 rounds reportedly fired
Villagers reportedly heard multiple rounds of gunfire from the area, with local sources stating that nearly 20 rounds were fired during the attack. After hearing the gunfire, villagers went towards the location and reportedly found Wiphenbou's body lying on the roadside.
Local sources described the injuries as severe, reporting extensive gunshot injuries to his shoulder, head and upper body.
The ambush reportedly took place between Takou (Nkou Nri) and Tamah (Malek), lifeline of the Nagas living in northern parts of Tamei, both of which fall within the Tamei Sub-Division of Tamenglong district, according to official district records.
The incident has raised fresh concerns among residents over the safety of Naga civilians travelling through remote stretches of the Tamei area, with local residents saying that attacks by Kuki militants have now reached deep inside Tamei Assembly Constituency. The reported killing has heightened concerns over the security situation in an area where residents have also reported seeing armed men moving through the surrounding hills in recent weeks.
For local residents, the incident marks a further expansion of violence and armed activity into the interior areas of Tamei AC, raising concerns over the safety of civilians travelling between villages and accessing their sources of livelihood.
This is a developing story. Further details will be added as information is independently verified and confirmed by authorities.
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