Imphal: Three persons belonging to the Kuki community were killed in a gunfight between rival armed groups in Manipur’s Noney district, police said.
The gunfight broke out at Kekru Naga village Saturday morning. The exchange of fire continued for several hours in the forested hill village, they said.
The deceased were identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen, who hailed from interior parts of Henglep and Thanlon in Churachandpur district, a police officer said.
According to Kuki civil organisations, they were “village volunteers”, he said.
“Necessary security measures have been taken in the area,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of the community, strongly condemned the killing of the three youths.
In a statement, KIM alleged that “Naga militant groups” were behind the killings and demanded “justice, accountability and immediate state action”.