Three people were reportedly killed during an armed confrontation in Manipur’s Noney district on October 30, with conflicting accounts emerging from Naga and Kuki-Zo organizations regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to local reports from Ukhrul-based sources, an exchange of gunfire allegedly took place between Naga Village Guards (NVG) and suspected Kuki militants near Taijeikaiphun village under Nungba subdivision between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The reports stated that three individuals were killed during the confrontation, although their identities had not been officially confirmed.
Local sources further claimed that following the gunfight, Naga Village Guards gained control of a position allegedly occupied by Kuki militants. Three AK-series rifles along with ammunition were reportedly recovered from the site. The weapons were alleged to have been used in attacks targeting Rongmei Naga-inhabited areas.
Reports also indicated that Taijeikaiphun village had allegedly been under attack from multiple directions since October 29. However, no official statement regarding casualties among the Naga Village Guards had been released.
Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) issued a strong statement expressing grief and condemnation over the deaths of three Kuki-Zo village volunteers in Noney district. The organization alleged that the volunteers were killed by cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF(K), describing the incident as a direct attack on the Kuki-Zo community.
KIM stated that inadequate security arrangements in vulnerable Kuki-Zo settlements had forced local residents to take responsibility for defending their villages. The organization also alleged that the bodies of the deceased were subjected to desecration after the killings, describing the reported acts as inhumane and unacceptable.
The organization accused the authorities of failing to contain armed groups operating in the region and called for immediate action to ensure justice, accountability, and improved security for affected communities.
As of the filing of this report, no official statement from security agencies or the state government had been issued clarifying the circumstances of the incident or confirming the identities of those killed.