IMPHAL, Sept 16: Suspected militants attacked Chawangkining Naga village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district late Tuesday night, triggering a gunfight with security forces and leaving two houses burnt, officials said.
The attack took place around 10.30 pm when a large group of armed militants opened fire towards the hill village. CRPF personnel deployed in the area retaliated, leading to intermittent firing that continued for nearly six hours until around 4.30 am on Wednesday.
Security forces prevented the attackers from entering the village, although two wooden houses on its outskirts were set ablaze, officials said.
Villager Daniel Charenamai said the attack began around 10.30 pm and firing continued until about 4 am. He said CRPF personnel returned fire and prevented the village from being overrun.
The attack came hours after two Kuki women were shot dead at Leisangphai in neighbouring Tamenglong district.
Naga Peoples’ Front legislator and senior Naga leader Awangbou Newmai condemned the killings and the burning of houses at Chawangkining, saying such violence would not benefit any community.
A Kuki MLA from Saikul constituency also condemned the killing of the two women, one of whom she said had recently graduated in nursing. The MLA alleged that cadres of the NSCN-IM and ZUF-K were involved in the killings, describing the deaths as unjustifiable.
