Two women killed, houses torched in fresh Manipur violence
Imphal: Two women were killed and several houses were gutted in fresh violence in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Manipur.
According to Kashmir Media Service, gunmen shot dead two women from the Kuki community when they had gone to an isolated field in the interior village of Leisangphai to collect firewood.
The deceased were identified as Chonga Sitlhou (60) and Kimboi Singson (30), officials said. Their bodies were found in the field with gunshot injuries and were recovered by villagers.
The armed miscreants also set on fire a few kutcha farmhouses. The killing came two days after four persons, including two women, were shot in Tamenglong and Noney districts.
On September 13, a woman and her husband were killed and their infant son was injured in their home when suspected gunmen attacked Tollen Kuki village in Tamenglong district. A woman and a man were shot by armed men at Longpi village in Noney district on the same day.
On the other hand, attackers targeted Chawangkining village in Kangpokpi, triggering an overnight exchange of fire with Indian CRPF personnel and leaving at least two houses burnt, officials said.Villager Daniel Charenamai said the attack began in the evening on Tuesday and firing continued till Wednesday morning.
Naga Peoples’ Front legislator and senior Naga leader Awangbou Newmai condemned both the killings and the burning of houses in Chawangkining. He said such acts of violence would not benefit any community.
Meanwhile, Indian police during an operation arrested two brothers allegedly linked by forces to recent attacks on Indian paramilitary personnel in Imphal East. The violence in Manipur has claimed more than 260 lives, left thousands injured and displaced around 60,000 residents since May 2023.
