New Delhi: Three persons were killed in an exchange of gunfire, reportedly between armed miscreant groups, in Noney district of Manipur Wednesday, police said. The incident comes after multiple members belonging to Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga communities have been killed in continuing civil unrest over the last few years.
A senior police officer told ThePrint that the gunfight began around 1.55 am in Taodaijang, about 19 km east of Nungba Police Station, between groups of armed miscreants. The involvement of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM) and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) is suspected.
The police identified the deceased as Aihung Khumba, of Pungmol in Noney district. The other two were identified as Meijanthui Thaimei and Gainingam Kamei. “In the incident, three individuals lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries,” the officer said. He added that the Manipur Police and security forces have been deployed in the area to take necessary action and prevent further untoward incidents.
The officer said it is suspected the two belong to Zeliangrong United Front–Jenchui (ZUF [J]) and another to Zeliangrong United Front–Jenchui (Kamson) (ZUF [K]).
Meanwhile, ZUF, in a statement, extended condolences to the bereaved families of the two soldiers who died in the armed attack. They identified the deceased as Corporal Meijianthui Thaimei of Lunglei Village and Lance Corporal Gainingam Kamson of Luangchum Village Part-1 respectively. “They sacrificed their lives for their motherland on 4th November 2026 at Taodaijang Village, Noney District, Manipur, when they were attacked in a joint operation carried out by NSCN-IM, NSCN-K (Niki Sumi) and Kamson gang,” the group said.
In a separate press note, the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) also identified the third deceased as Lance Corporal Aihung Khumba of Pungmon Village, Houchong Sub-Division, Noney District, Manipur.
The NSCN(IM) has not issued a statement on the incident yet.
Manipur has been reeling under ethnic conflict since 3 May, 2023, when violence first broke out between two of the three dominant communities of the state–the Meiteis and the Kukis. There was a brief let-up in violence after President’s Rule was imposed in February last year following the resignation of then chief minister N. Biren Singh. Tensions picked up again after President’s Rule ended this February, and Yumnam Khemchand Singh was appointed chief minister.
This time around, the ethnic clashes shifted from Meiteis and Kukis to Kukis and Nagas. Over 300 people, across all three communities, have been killed in the violence since 2023, and more than 60,000 displaced.
As escalations continue to flare up within Naga and Kuki groups, a senior Manipur Police officer said it gets challenging at times for security forces to control the Kuki-Naga clashes in some of the hill districts, which have a mixed population from both communities.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
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