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The United Kuki National Army, a splinter group known to have adversarial relations with the KNA, claimed responsibility for the attack

- Thomas Ngangom

IMPHAL: At least four people, including a 72-year-old woman, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in a suspected factional violence in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Monday, police said.

The incident took place near K Mongjang village around 1 pm, when the armed miscreants ambushed a vehicle and shot three individuals from a point-blank range, killing them on the spot, a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity, adding that an elderly woman passer-by caught in the cross-fire later succumbed to her injuries.

Among the deceased was Thenkhothang Haokip alias Thahpi (48), the deputy commander-in-chief of the Kuki National Army (KNA), the armed wing of prominent Kuki militant outfit — Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an officer aware of the matter said, requesting anonymity.