NEW DELHI — Five individuals belonging to the Kuki community were killed in Manipur within a 24-hour period, escalating the Kuki-Naga conflict in the state further. Three died in a gunfight in Noney district, and the bodies of two missing youths were later found near the border between Kangpokpi and Senapati districts.

The gunfight broke out on Saturday morning at Kekru Naga village in Noney, a forested hill area, and went on for several hours, police said. Kuki civil organisations described the three dead as "village volunteers". The Kuki Inpi Manipur, the community’s apex body, blamed "Naga militant groups" and demanded justice, accountability and immediate state action.

The two youths, identified as Paoginlal Hangsing, 20, and Thangginlun Congloi, 21, had been missing since late October from Taphou Kuki village. Their bodies, mutilated and stuffed into gunny bags, were found on Sunday in a banana farm along SP Road, a hilly route linking Senapati and Kangpokpi.

Senapati has a largely Naga population, whereas Kangpokpi is mainly dominated by Kuki-Zo, though pockets of Naga settlement exist there.

As per reports, joint teams of the state police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Rifles took part in the search.

"During the course of one such operation, the joint teams recovered the two bodies. The bodies are of the two missing Kuki youths," an officer was quoted as saying by PTI.

In a statement, the police said: "An extensive search operation was conducted today by joint teams comprising the Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Assam Rifles and RAF in the general area east of NH-2, along the SP Road."

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As the news of the recovery of the bodies of the deceased individuals emerged, protests began on the streets of Kangpokpi, the district headquarters. The protesters alleged that the youths were abducted and killed by Naga militants. Security personnel used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd outside the SP office, officials said. The protesters claimed that some of them were hurt.

The demonstrators said that the bodies won't be taken home for last rites until those responsible are arrested.

Police have not named anyone for the killings. Kuki groups, however, have pointed to the NSCN-IM, a Naga armed outfit that has been under a ceasefire agreement since 1997. The group has been blamed in similar incidents before. It has, however, denied any role, Deccan Herald reported.

The Kuki Human Rights Forum called for a proper investigation and action against the Naga armed groups allegedly involved in the incident.

Deputy chief ministers Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki, and Losii Dikho, a Naga, both condemned the killings.

The ethnic conflict between the Kukis and the Nagas began in February this year and more than 50 people have been killed so far, as per PTI. Dozens of houses have also been burnt in Tamenglong, Noney, Kamjong, Ukhrul and Kangpokpi. Earlier, ethnic violence between the Meiteis of Imphal Valley and the hill-based Kukis in the state, left over 300 dead, 49 missing and thousands homeless.

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