3 Kuki Village Volunteers Killed in Thowai Kuki village of Kamjong district

KAMJONG: A heavy gunfight broke out at Thowai (Thawai) Kuki Village in the foothills of Manipur state under Litan Police Station in Kamjong district (Phungyar Sub-Division) on Friday morning. Sounds of heavy gunfire were heard from the village which is located approximately 47 Km from Ukhrul town at around 4:30 am. Three Kuki village volunteers were reportedly killed in the encounter by armed miscreants.  As per sources, the armed miscreants are suspected to be Meitei/Meetei armed groups.

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.”

Ningshem Vashum, the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Ukhrul Headquarters provided information about the incident and said that the miscreants are reported to have approached the Kuki village from the hills to the East, where they engaged in a gunfight with the village guards. According to sources, the bodies of the deceased villagers were found after a hectic search by CSOs and villagers. Deceased persons are identified as Jamkhogin Haokip (26), Thangkhokai Haokip (35) and Hollenson Baite (24). They were found killed in their bunker. All the three deceased are being taken at District Hospital, Ukhrul, for Post mortem, a government order said.

Out of the trio, two sustained multiple bullet injuries while the arms and legs of the third person were mutilated. Till the time of filing this report, there are no further reports of casualty. Tangkhul villages close to Thowai (Thawai) Kuki village informed that the gunfight lasted for almost an hour in the wee hours with sounds of automatic weapons and mortars. It may be mentioned that many Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) belonging to Kuki-Zo tribe are taking shelter in Mongkot Chephu- Govt. High School, PWD Bungalow, Veterinary dispensary and Church building at Litan Sareikhong Village, around 4 Km from Thowai Kuki village. The neighbouring kuki villages of Thowai (Thawai) Kuki Village in this area are Zalenbung village, Shangkai village, Mongkot Chepu village, Jalembung village etc.

In an order issued by Manipur government today in connection to the firing incident at Thawai Kuki Village, under Phungyar Sub-Divison, Kamjong District, Rang David Kung, SDO/Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Phungyar has been detailed for Magistrate duties.