Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Factional violence between rival Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) groups has claimed two lives in Noney district over 24 hours. Armed cadres from the ZUF-Jenchui (ZUF-J) and ZUF-Kamson (ZUF-K) factions clashed in a pair of shootouts that left six people injured.
The first incident broke out Friday between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM at Oktan village in the Haochong sub-division. Dingtiplung Gonmei, also known as Nguiba Gonmei, died in the gunfire. He served as the self-styled chief secretary for the ZUF-K faction. The fight reportedly started while the group held a football tournament to mark the 95th Haipou Jadonang Death Anniversary.
A second gunfight erupted at 5:30 AM Saturday near Nungtek village. Heavy firing and explosions echoed for several minutes between Nungtek Part II and Haochong, roughly five kilometers from the Noney district headquarters. Local Meira Paibi members and police could not reach the site due to security threats. Security forces later confirmed that Jangailung, a 29-year-old self-styled 2nd Lieutenant of the ZUF-J faction, died from multiple bullet and splinter wounds.
Six other ZUF-J cadres suffered injuries during the Saturday morning clash. Medics treated the wounded at Makaam Hospital in Longmai Bazar before moving them to Imphal under CRPF escort. Sharon Inpui, 30, was identified among the injured with bullet wounds to his chest and arm. He is currently at Shija Hospital, while five others remain at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences. Officials reported that the condition of three wounded individuals is critical.
Neither ZUF faction has issued a public comment regarding the violence. The Zeliangrong United Front remains bound by a tripartite Cessation of Operations agreement signed in New Delhi on December 27-28, 2022. That deal established a Joint Monitoring Group to enforce ground rules. The back-to-back attacks have triggered intense scrutiny regarding the agreement, with one official noting, "The back-to-back clashes have raised concerns over further escalation of factional violence in the Noney-Haochong area."
Comments