In fresh escalation, Kuki woman killed in firing by security forces, Meitei farmer shot at in Manipur

Guwahati: Wife of a Kuki village headman died in firing by security forces along Bishnupur-Churachandpur district in Manipur on Thursday, hours after a Meitei farmer received bullet injury in firing allegedly by Kuki insurgents.

A Kuki leader said the woman, Haikholhing, the wife of the chief of Langchingmanbi Village in Churachandpur district died on the spot.

"It seems the lady was killed after security forces opened fire soon after a Meitei farmer received bullet injury at Phubala village. Her body will be taken to Churachandpur district headquarters," said the Kuki leader.

In a social media post on Thursday evening, Manipur Police said the Kuki woman died in cross fire when security forces retaliated to firing by unknown miscreants during a combing operation following the injury to the Meitei farmer.

Chaos prevailed after a Meitei farmer, Ningtgoujam Biren, aged about 60, was injured in firing allegedly by Kuki armed persons. He was admitted to a hospital in Imphal with five bullet wounds.

The fresh firings are seen as a setback to efforts by the administration to restore peace in that has remained on the boil since May 2023 due to the conflict involving the Meitei and the Kuki communities.

Central forces have been manning the "buffer zone" between the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur and Kuki-dominated Churachandpur. But tension prevailed along the buffer zones after Kuki persons allegedly tried to stop Meitei farmers in cultivation activities on June 15. Kuki and Meitei men and women pelted stones at each other as chaos prevailed in an area along Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts.

Manipur has remained under President's Rule since February due to the conflict. More than 260 people have died and over 60,000 others displaced due to the conflict since May 2023. Sporadic firing along the buzzer zones have kept the security forces on their toes.