A couple and their son were killed, and several houses were set on fire as fresh violence erupted in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, with two armed groups exchanging fire on Friday.
Residents and community organisations said the gunfire began around 4:10am in Kangpokpi district’s Loibol Khellen.
Deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen called the killing of the three and the burning of homes “by unknown armed miscreants” a tragic and unacceptable act.
He said the government is taking the incident very seriously and necessary steps are being taken, and those responsible will be dealt with as per the law.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), an apex body of Kukis, said seven houses were destroyed and extensive damage was caused to property.
The organisation blamed armed cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah, a Naga armed militant outfit and a faction of the Zeliangrong United Front-Kasom, for the violence against Kukis.
The fresh violence came days after a hostage crisis escalated Naga-Kuki tensions, the latest in a series of crises in the northeastern state, where ethnic violence has continued sporadically since May 2023.
