Imphal, Oct 19: At least two men were killed and eight others reportedly injured in a suspected militant attack near Hongman village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Monday morning.
In a further development, angry residents brought the bodies of the two deceased to the gate of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s bungalow on Monday afternoon to protest the killings. Police subsequently fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
The deceased were identified as Arubam Ronil, 35, son of Raja Mama Memi of Nongshum Mayai Leikai, and Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 51, son of Tombi of Nongshum Awang Leikai.
According to local sources, the victims were residents of Nongshum village under the Khundrakpam constituency of Imphal East district. They had reportedly gone into a forest near Hongman, also known locally as Hongman Khongbal, to collect firewood when they came under fire.
The two men were reportedly killed on the spot, while at least eight others sustained bullet and shrapnel injuries in the attack.
The incident took place in a forest belt near the Khamenlok region, which witnessed intense ethnic clashes and territorial confrontations during earlier phases of Manipur’s ongoing conflict. Hongman is a Tangkhul Naga settlement near the boundary with Nongshum village in Imphal East.
Local civil society groups have condemned the killings, describing the incident as an attack on civilians collecting firewood for their daily needs.
Security forces have reportedly been deployed to the border area between Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts to prevent further escalation and assist in the recovery of the victims.
Also read: Protests mount in Manipur over transfer of Kamjong SP following Chassad attack
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