GUWAHATI: Three people were killed and several houses were set on fire after unidentified armed assailants launched an attack on Loibol village under the New Keithelmanbi area in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district during the early hours of Friday, June 5.
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The deceased were identified as Letkhongam Haokip, his wife Tinmary Haokip, and Jangminlal Haokip, all residents of Loibol Khullen village. According to a statement issued by the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), South West Sadar Hills, the victims were aged 34, 30 and 34 years respectively.
The attack reportedly took place around 4 AM and was accompanied by extensive arson, with multiple houses reduced to ashes. Security forces were rushed to the area following reports of heavy gunfire and the burning of civilian properties.
In a statement issued on June 5, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) reportedly alleged that heavily armed cadres of the NSCN-IM and its proxy outfit ZUF (K) carried out the assault. The organisation reportedly claimed that three civilians were killed, seven houses were destroyed and significant damage was caused to civilian property during the attack.
The incident comes amid the continuing ethnic tensions that have gripped Manipur since May 2023. The conflict began following clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities over the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status and soon escalated into widespread violence across the state.
According to various official and media estimates, more than 250 people have been killed and around 60,000 displaced since the unrest began.
While the intensity of the violence has reduced compared to the initial months of the conflict, sporadic incidents of gun attacks, ambushes and clashes continue to be reported from districts including Kangpokpi, Imphal East and Churachandpur.