Correspondent
IMPHAL, Sep 27: The death toll from Saturday’s armed assault at a village in Manipur’s Senapati rose to three as one more injured person succumbed to his injuries early on Sunday.
On september 26 afternoon, suspected militants stormed Kailengjang, a Naga inhabited village located along the Senapati-Kangpokpi inter-district border, killing two villagers at the spot and injuring two others. The two injured, Ashiho Sani (49) of Shajouba village and Adani Manio (33) of Makhel village, were taken to a private hospital in the district for treatment.
After hours of struggling for his life, Ashiho Sani died at around 3 am on Sunday, officials said.
His body was subsequently taken to Senapati district hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Officials said that the mandatory post-mortem examinations were conducted on Sunday and handed over to their respective families.
Before this, a condolence service for the latest victims linked to the escalating Naga-Kuki conflict in Manipur was held at Senapati Traffic Point at the district headquarters.
Leaders of various civil society groups and student bodies based in the district were among hundreds of people who turned up to pay their last respect to the departed souls.
The lifeless bodies of the three victims were later taken to their respective villages for burial following the condolence service.
CSO leaders who took part in the event put the death toll to 13 people in the ongoing Naga–Kuki conflict 26 till date in separate gun attacks carried out by suspected militants in September.
Former chief minister N Biren Singh condemned the incident and said there have been more than 60 killings this year.
In a post on X, Biren Singh said, “The killing of Rocky from Chaowainamai village and Kumar from Laii Shirafii village is a matter of grave concern. Armed militants entered their homes and shot them dead while they were asleep. These were civilians who deserved to live without fear.”