Angry residents carried the bodies of two victims to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s high-security residence, where police forcibly removed them.

The incidents, reported overnight and on the following morning, have heightened tensions in the state, where relations between the Meitei and Kuki communities have remained strained since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.

1 killed in shooting at musical event

In the first incident, violence reportedly broke out during a musical event in a locality inhabited by Meiteis and Pangal Muslims.

Stone-pelting and gunfire allegedly erupted during the gathering, leaving several people injured.

A 24-year-old man later died from bullet injuries, according to the report.

The circumstances that led to the confrontation and the identities of those involved were not immediately clear.

Three shot dead in Khamenlok

In a separate incident at Khamenlok in Imphal East district, three villagers were reportedly shot dead by suspected tribal militants while collecting firewood in nearby hills.

Three other people were also injured in the attack.

Local MLA Thokchom Lokeshor Singh said the victims had gone to collect firewood near the boundary between Imphal East and Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district when they were allegedly attacked.

Police sources said the area has a presence of Kuki militant groups.

However, the circumstances surrounding the killings and the identities of those responsible remain subject to investigation.

The victims were identified as Arubam Ronil, also reported as Ronin, 35, son of Raja, from Nongshum Mayai Leikai; Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 44, son of Tombi, from Uyumpok Nongshum Awang Leikai; and Kshetrimayum Sushil, 32, son of Ksh Deven, from Uyumpok Mayai Leikai.

Protesters bring bodies to CM’s bungalow

The killings sparked anger among residents, who marched towards the Chief Minister’s high-security bungalow in Imphal carrying the bodies of the victims.

The protesters placed two bodies outside the residence to demonstrate their outrage over the killings.

Police subsequently removed the bodies, using tear gas and a lathi-charge to disperse the agitated crowd.

The protest brought renewed attention to the deteriorating security situation and demands for immediate intervention by the authorities.

MLA seeks removal of nearby SoO camp

Reacting to the killings, MLA Thokchom Lokeshor Singh called for urgent action by the authorities and demanded the removal of Sinai Camp, identified as a Suspension of Operations (SoO) camp near the area where the villagers were reportedly attacked.

The MLA also said Assam Rifles personnel had assured the firewood collectors that they would be protected.

The circumstances of the reported assurance and the events leading to the shooting have not been independently established in the information available.

Chief Minister visits injured

Following the violence, security agencies sanitised the site of the fatal shooting.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited injured people receiving treatment at Raj Medicity Hospital.

The authorities faced mounting pressure to address the incidents as protests unfolded in Imphal.

Further details about the attacks, the identities of the suspected assailants and the circumstances surrounding the deaths were awaited.

Fresh violence threatens fragile calm

The latest killings risk deepening mistrust between the Meitei and Kuki communities, whose relations have remained tense since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023.

The reported attack near the boundary between Imphal East and Kangpokpi has added to concerns over security in an already sensitive area.

The deaths, followed by protests at the Chief Minister’s residence, have placed renewed focus on the authorities’ response and demands for action over the nearby SoO camp.

The MLA has called for immediate intervention, including the removal of Sinai Camp, as the state confronts another outbreak of deadly violence.