Correspondent
IMPHAL, AUG 31: Three persons, including two women, were killed and four others injured in a fresh attack on Teikhang, a Kuki village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, early Monday. At least two houses were also torched. The attack occurred around 38 km from Kangpokpi district headquarters along the IT Road, barely five days after an ambush in the district killed five Naga civilians on August 27.
The deceased were identified as Tingneichin (40), wife of Tongpao Lhouvum; Hoineng (21), wife of Thanggoulen Lhoujum; and Lamintang (36), son of Seilun Lhoujem. The injured were Nemneichong Lhoujem (50), Deilhing (55), Seilun Lhoujem (70) and Kamtinsei Chongloi (38), all residents of Teikhang. Nemneichong was stated to be in critical condition. The injured were taken to a hospital in Kangpokpi town.
Sources said armed miscreants fired indiscriminately at the village, forcing residents to flee, before setting fire to two houses. Twilang Area Kuki CSO Working Committee blamed NSCN (I-M) and ZUF (K) cadres for the attack, an allegation that could not be independently verified. The CSO termed it an “unprovoked and barbaric attack” and alleged involvement of around 50 heavily armed cadres.
Meanwhile, Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, called a 24-hour shutdown along NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur Road) from 5 a.m. September 1 to 5 a.m. September 2 in protest against the attack and house burnings. Educational institutions, medical and fire services, banking, and electricity departments have been exempted.