Violence erupts in Imphal valley again; 2 killed, 3 hurt

GUWAHATI: Violence returned to Manipur's

Imphal

valley after a brief lull with unidentified gunmen shooting dead two persons and critically wounding three others in a Tuesday afternoon attack at a village in Imphal West district bordering Kangpokpi, a hill district.
The two deceased were identified as N Michael, 33, and M Khaba, 23. One of the injured was taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.

The other two who were injured are missing, a security official said.
A security source said the firing took place in Koutruk village around 2 pm. The attack comes three days after a village volunteer was killed and two others were injured in a gunfight between two armed groups in the same district.
In a post on X, Manipur Police said search operations and area domination exercise were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. During the operation, they recovered one 9mm pistol with magazine, one .303 rifle with magazine, one improvised 5.56 mm rifle with magazine, one 12 bore gun, one improvised mortar (

Pumpi

), two tear smoke shell, one tear gas grenade, some ammunition and a pair of jungle boots.

The violence happened on a day when the state and the rest of the country observed Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary. A few hours before the attack, Manipur governor Anusuiya Uikye and chief minister

N Biren

Singh paid homage to the Father of the Nation in Imphal where both urged people to follow Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence, kindness, mutual brotherhood and forgiveness.