Security forces in Manipur.
Credit: PTI File Photo
Guwahati: Two men belonging to the Kuki-Zo community were killed in an ambush allegedly carried out by Meitei insurgents in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Monday, the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), an organization representing the Kukis, said.
In a statement, COTU said the "unprovoked attack" was carried out at Haraothel and Kobsha village by Meitei insurgents in which the two Kukis were gunned down. The Committee said the two victims have been identified as Henminlen Vaiphei and Thangminlun Hangshing.
The COTU also shared a video showing bodies of the two victims lying in a pool of blood near a vehicle with several bullet holes.
Sources in police said they received reports about an attack but they are yet to be confirmed about casualties in the incident.
The COTU statement said an emergency meeting was called in which the attack was condemned and an "emergency shutdown" was declared in Kangpokpi district to register protest against the fresh killings.
Hours later, the Centre's security advisor to Manipur, Kuldiep Singh met Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan in Imphal and apprised her about the security measures taken to maintain law and order situation.
More than 180 people have been killed and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the clashes between the majority Meitei and the Kuki tribe since May. Sporadic incidents of violence have kept the state tense for the past six months despite the presence of a large number of security forces including the army.