Imphal/Guwahati: At least three persons, including two civilians and a security personnel, were killed Wednesday in a gunfight between residents of two Naga-dominated villages in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, according to security sources.
Bullets were fired at around 9 a.m. as tensions escalated over a long-standing land dispute between Hunphun and Hungpung villages, they said, adding that several others sustained injuries.
The three killed were identified as rifleman Worinmi Thumbra from 6th Manipur Rifles, and Reileiwung Hongray and Silas Zingkhai. All three were from Ukhrul.
Primarily inhabited by the Tangkhul Nagas, the hill district is accessible via Imphal through National Highway-150, which is about 84 km from state capital Imphal.
According to sources, the violence erupted during a one-day cleanliness drive organised by the Thawaijao Hungpung Young Students’ Organisation (THYSO) on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, from District Hospital, Hungsei to Thingrasa. However, residents of Hunphun village opposed the activity, claiming the area fell under their jurisdiction.
Senior police officers, including Inspector General I.K. Muivah and Deputy Inspector General Ningshen Worngam, rushed to Ukhrul to oversee matters.
Meanwhile, the Ukhrul Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) issued prohibition orders, restricting the movement of any individual outside their residences in Hunphun and Hungpung villages. The restriction will remain in place until further orders.
Mobile internet service was also suspended in the entire Ukhrul district.
Local authorities were closely monitoring the situation, and additional security personnel deployed to ensure peace.
Conveying their “deepest condolences” to the bereaved famiIies, three Naga legislators from the region—minister Khashim Vashum and MLAs Ram Muivah and Leishiyo Keishing—have appealed for peace, urging both sides to refrain from violence.
In a statement, the three legislators said that their intervention is timely and necessary, but the appeals for peace must be backed by concrete actions.
“The state government, in coordination with tribal leaders and civil society groups, needs to initiate a broad consultation process to address the root causes of these conflicts. Bringing together village elders, local authorities, and relevant stakeholders to mediate disputes through traditional and legal mechanisms would go a long way in preventing future violence,” the statement said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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