Imphal: Ethnic violence in Ukhrul district of Manipur escalated on Friday, with fresh killings pushing the death toll to five amid continuing tensions between Kuki and Naga groups since April 18.
According to official sources, two village volunteers belonging to the Kuki community were killed in suspected militant attacks at Mullam and Shongphal villages in the district. The bodies, bearing bullet injuries, were recovered during a security operation conducted around 5 p.m. Two houses were also found torched in the affected areas.
In a separate incident earlier in the day, a Tangkhul Naga man identified as Horshokmi Jamang (29), a Village Guard from Chatric Khullen village in Kamjong district, was shot dead at Sinakeithei village in Ukhrul. He is suspected to have been targeted by Kuki militants, officials said.
While the identity of the Naga victim has been confirmed, the names of the deceased Kuki volunteers were yet to be officially established at the time of filing this report.
Additional security forces have been deployed in vulnerable locations to prevent further escalation.
The latest incidents follow the April 18 ambush along National Highway-202 near T.M. Kasom, in which two Tangkhul Naga civilians were killed. The killings had triggered widespread protests, a temporary suspension of internet services, and a shutdown in Naga-inhabited areas, which concluded on Thursday with candlelight vigils.
The recent violence points to a further deterioration in relations between Kuki-Zo and Naga groups.
Civil society organisations, including the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), have appealed for restraint and called for steps to restore peace.
The developments form part of the broader ethnic conflict that has gripped Manipur since May 2023, displacing thousands and resulting in significant loss of life. The situation in the affected areas remain tense, with heightened security presence and growing calls for peace and accountability.