MANIPUR, India: At least three individuals were killed and five seriously injured when gunmen in camouflage fatigues opened fire on villagers in India’s restive northeastern state of Manipur, officials said on Tuesday, as sporadic violence continued in the region.
The incident occurred in the Lilong area of Thoubal district on Monday, marking an escalation in the ongoing violence in the region.
Since May, when intense clashes erupted between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities following a court order advocating equal privileges, the state has witnessed a death toll of at least 180. The recent attack adds to the sporadic violence persisting in Manipur.
Details surrounding the victims’ identities and the assailants remain unknown. A senior police official revealed that three people succumbed to gunshot wounds, while five others are undergoing treatment for multiple injuries.
In response to the escalating situation, authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew in Thoubal district and four adjoining districts—Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, and Bishnupur—since Monday night.
Manipur, sharing a border with Myanmar, ranks among the smallest states in India, with a population of 3.2 million. The state’s demographics include 16 percent Kukis residing in the hills, benefiting from economic advantages and quotas for government jobs and education, while the more prosperous lowlands are controlled by the Meiteis, constituting 53 percent of the population.
