#BreakingNews: Seven Injured In Gunfight Between Armed Groups In Manipur’s Ukhrul District
Seven people were injured in a fresh gunfight in Manipur’s Ukhrul amid escalating ethnic tensions between armed groups.
At least seven people were injured in a fresh outbreak of gunfire between armed groups linked to the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in Ringui village of Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Monday, further deepening ethnic tensions in the region. Officials said the violence broke out around 5 a.m. when suspected armed militants allegedly opened fire in the area, triggering a sustained exchange that continued for several hours.
Police sources said the attack reportedly targeted Ringui, a Tangkhul Naga village located around 25 km from the Luichong Maiphei police station. The injured include six Tangkhul Naga individuals and one person from the Kuki community. Authorities added that the injured Tangkhul Naga residents were admitted to Ukhrul District Hospital for treatment. Despite ongoing efforts, security forces were initially unable to reach the site due to continuing gunfire and the presence of armed groups.
Those injured have been identified as residents from multiple villages across Ukhrul district, including Horchan (26), Shairei (33), Ngashanchui Sayai (28), Themzam (35), Chinaoya (36), and Thotreingam (39). Officials said the situation remained volatile even hours after the initial clash, with intermittent firing still being reported from the surrounding hills. Security forces have been placed on alert as they attempt to regain control of the area.
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The Ringui Village Protection Committee strongly condemned the attack, alleging that armed Kuki militants carried out repeated unprovoked assaults against members of the Naga Village Guard during routine monitoring. The committee claimed that sophisticated weapons were used from multiple bunker positions in surrounding hill areas and called the incident “barbaric and terrorising,” demanding immediate investigation and action against those responsible.
In response, a Kuki civil body under the Kuki CSO working committee countered the allegations, stating that the attack was initiated by cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)-Eastern Flank faction. The group claimed that armed individuals attempted to enter Kuki-inhabited areas through the Tongou sector, resulting in retaliation. Authorities, however, have not independently verified these claims, and investigations are ongoing.
The latest violence adds to a growing pattern of unrest in Ukhrul district. Similar clashes on April 28 left three Tangkhul Naga individuals injured in Ringui village. Earlier incidents this year have been even more severe, including fatalities, arson attacks that destroyed over 50 homes and government buildings, and ambushes on civilians. Security officials say the repeated flare-ups underscore the fragile situation in the region, where mistrust and armed confrontations continue to threaten stability.
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