In a fresh round of violence in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, mutilated bodies of Kuki three youths were found following heavy gunfire at Kuki Thowai village in Ukhrul district on Friday, officials said.
This is the first time that an attack in the recent bout of violence has occurred in Ukhrul district, which is dominated by Tangkhul Nagas. Sounds of heavy gunfire were heard from the village, which falls in Litan police station area, early in the morning, they said.
Officials said the bodies of the three youths aged between 24 years and 35 years were found after police carried out a thorough search in the surrounding villages and forest areas. Bodies of the three persons bore injury marks apparently made using sharp knives and their limbs were also chopped off, officials said.
Ukhrul superintendent of police Ningshem Vashum told Scroll that the incident occurred at the Thawai Kuki village around 4.30 am.
“It was an unprovoked and intentional attack…three people have been shot dead,” Vashum said. “We suspect that armed miscreants from the Valley side intruded [into] the Hills and attacked them. The deceased were volunteers who were guarding the village.”
While Thawai Kuki falls under the Kamjong revenue district, it falls within the police jurisdiction of the Ukhrul district.
The village is located on the border between the Naga-dominated Ukhrul district and the Meitei-dominated Imphal East district.
