IMPHAL: Four individuals lost their lives in a targeted ambush at K. Mongjang village in Manipur’s Churachandpur district around 1 PM on Monday, police confirmed. The incident, believed to be a brutal manifestation of ongoing factional rivalry among Kuki militant groups, left three people in a vehicle dead on the spot, while a woman passerby caught in the crossfire later succumbed to her injuries.
Among the deceased has been identified as Thangboi Haokip alias Thahpi, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Kuki National Organisation/Kuki National Army (KNO/KNA), a prominent Kuki militant outfit. This high-profile killing has raised immediate concerns about potential retaliatory violence in the already sensitive region.
While no militant group has yet claimed responsibility for the audacious attack, and authorities are yet to officially confirm the identity of the assailants, police strongly suspect the involvement of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA). The UKNA is a known splinter group with a history of tense and often violent relations with the KNO/KNA. The recovery of multiple empty 5.56 mm ammunition casings from the scene indicates the use of sophisticated weaponry.
The tragic incident underscores the volatile security situation in parts of Manipur, where inter-group clashes among armed organizations continue to pose a significant threat to civilian lives. Local authorities have rushed additional security forces to the area to prevent any further escalation of violence and have launched a comprehensive investigation to apprehend those responsible for this deadly ambush. The killing of a top Kuki commander is likely to have significant repercussions on the delicate power dynamics within the region’s militant landscape.
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