Manipur: Internal fight between Kuki insurgent groups leads to heavy gunfight; 4 killed, house set on fire

Imphal: On August 9, a violent gunfight in Manipur caused by internal tensions between Kuki gangs claimed the lives of four individuals, including a militant. This morning, there were disturbances in Molnom, Tengnoupal district, which led to the deaths of at least four people. The United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), an insurgent group, and volunteers from Kuki village were reportedly involved in the altercation. At about eight in the morning, there were conflicts in two different locations: Molnom Pallel and Molnom. According to reports, there was an internal argument that turned violent, resulting in a fatal gunfight. One UKLF member and three volunteers from the village were reported dead.

Molnom Pallel and Molnom are located in the Pallel region, around 1.5 kilometers apart. Members of the Village Volunteer Force (VVF) attacked and set fire to UKLF leader SS Haokip’s home as payback. There were reports of thick smoke rising as fires destroyed the building.

In the periphery and susceptible regions of the hill and valley districts, security personnel carried out search operations and area domination. Following the search, one 12-bore single barrel rifle, one MA3 MK-II AK rifle, six HE-36 hand grenades, two 9mm pistols, and two Baofeng handsets with chargers are among the weapons in question. 02 (two) Launching of Tubes, five tear smoke grenades, four anti-riot stun shells, eight tear smoke shells, five anti-riot cartridges, and eight tear smoke shells. Two signal grenades with the marking “M3 A2,” five BP vests, forty-two rounds of live ammo, twenty-six empty cases, and 42 rounds of live ammunition, eight detonators. Cartridges seized from Sekmaijin Mamang Leikai, Kakching District, police said in a statement.