Imphal: A factional gunfight between rival groups of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) broke out in Manipur’s Noney district early Saturday, August 29, leaving one cadre dead and six others injured.
The clash erupted around 6:30 am at Nungtek village under Noney Police Station, involving the ZUF-Jenchui (ZUF-J) and ZUF-Kamson (ZUF-K) factions. Heavy firing was reported during the confrontation, with all the casualties reportedly belonging to the ZUF-J faction.
The deceased was identified as 29-year-old Jagailung, a self-styled Second Lieutenant of ZUF-J from Muktina. He reportedly sustained bullet injuries during the gunfight and later succumbed to his wounds.
Six other ZUF-J cadres were injured in the clash. Among them, 30-year-old Sharon Inpui suffered bullet and splinter injuries to his chest and arm and is undergoing treatment at Shija Hospital in Langol. The other five injured cadres have been admitted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).
The exchange of fire was reportedly heard between Nungtek Part II and Haochong, around 5 km northeast of the Noney district headquarters.
Local Meira Paibi members and police personnel attempted to reach the area but were unable to proceed due to the volatile security situation.
The latest incident came less than 24 hours after another clash between the two factions at Oktan village on Friday, August 28. The village is located around 21 km northeast of Noney Police Station.
Police sources said Dingtiplung Gonmei, alias Nguiba Gonmei, the self-styled chief secretary of ZUF-K, was killed in Friday’s exchange of fire.
Neither faction has issued an official statement on the successive clashes. Police authorities have also not formally confirmed the latest casualties, citing the need for further verification.
The back-to-back confrontations have intensified concerns over the internal conflict between the rival ZUF factions in the Noney-Haochong belt and raised questions over the implementation of the existing ceasefire ground rules.
The ZUF entered into a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur on December 27–28, 2022. A Joint Monitoring Group was subsequently established to oversee compliance with the ceasefire ground rules.
The latest violence, however, has renewed scrutiny of the effectiveness of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism and its ability to prevent armed confrontations between the factions.