3 killed as violence rocks strife-torn Manipur again

Three men were shot dead by armed miscreants in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Tuesday as fresh violence rocked the strife-torn state, officials familiar with the matter said, taking the death toll to at least 168in clashes that have now been going on intermittently for over four months.

- Prawesh Lama and Utpal Parashar

 

The latest incident took place around 8.30am between the villages of Ireng and Karam Vaiphei in Kanggui area of the district.

The three victims, all village volunteers from the Kuki community -- Satneo Tuboi (41) and Ngamminlun Lhouvum (30) from K Ponlen, and Ngamminlun Kipgen (31) from Lhangkichoi -- were on their way to meet to meet their families at relief camps in Motbung, Saparmeina and Kangpokpi when they were waylaid, police said. “The three Kuki persons, who were going in a vehicle, were waylaid by armed miscreants and shot dead. Contrary to some reports, there was no gunfight. We have started investigations to nab those responsible. The bodies have been sent for postmortem,” Tholu Rocky, additional superintendent of police, Kangpokpi, said.

The attack was carried out in an area bordering Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts and the suspects are believed to have fled in a vehicle.

Imphal West is a Meitei-dominated district, and Kangpokpi is largely inhabited by Kukis.