IMPHAL: At least 13 people were killed in a gunfight between two armed groups in Manipur, a northeastern state in India plagued by ethnic tensions. The bodies, bearing multiple bullet wounds, were discovered in a village in the Tengnoupal district, where reports indicated a “massive” gunfight took place.
The incident occurred in the village of Leithu, in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, with two militant factions exchanging gunfire. The clash took place on Monday afternoon, adding to a series of violent events that have shaken the state since May 2023.
According to officials, a group of militants en route to Myanmar was ambushed by another insurgent group dominant in the area. The clash led to the loss of thirteen lives, and security forces reached the scene to assess the situation.
A police official from Imphal, the state capital, stated, “We are not in a position to immediately identify the dead bodies and cannot say which militant group they belong to.” The official also raised the possibility that weapons might have been looted after the individuals were killed.
“So far, 13 bodies have been discovered, and it appears that the deceased were not locals but may have come from another location,” stated an official in the hill district, as reported by news agency PTI.
Ethnic Clashes in India’s Manipur State
The incident follows seven months of deadly ethnic clashes between the majority Meitei group and the minority Kuki community in Manipur. The clashes erupted over issues related to the sharing of government benefits and quotas. Since May 3, sporadic violence has claimed the lives of at least 280 people and displaced tens of thousands.
The unrest began after a court directive instructed the government to consider extending special benefits given to the Kuki people to the Meitei community. The Meiteis, primarily Hindus residing around Imphal, clashed with the predominantly Christian Kuki community, which resides in the adjacent hill districts. Together, these tribal communities make up around 40 percent of Manipur’s population, totaling 3.5 million.
The ongoing tensions in Manipur are viewed as a security and political failure by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which holds power in the state. Modi initially remained silent about the violence, but public outrage escalated in July when viral videos emerged showing two women being paraded naked and assaulted by a mob.
