An unidentified man was found dead with a bullet injury to his head along the Kangla Sangom Shang–Angom Laiching Road under Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East on the morning of September 4.
Local commuters spotted the body around 4.30 am, following which Lamlai Police reached the spot and recovered it. The deceased was taken to the JNIMS Hospital mortuary for identification.
Police registered a case and launched an investigation to establish the man’s identity and determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Meanwhile, at least 25 houses were allegedly set ablaze by unidentified miscreants in Tiporam village under Chalwa Police Station in Kangpokpi district on September 2, officials said. The incident came a day after 10 houses were reportedly burnt in the nearby Liangmai Naga villages of Tapon Khullen, Tapon Khunou and Makui Tiporam.
Gunfire was reported during the attacks, in which a village church pastor sustained bullet injuries. A Tiporam resident claimed that five houses were burnt on September 1 and armed men threatened to torch more houses before another 25 were allegedly set ablaze the following day. Five of the houses reportedly belonged to members of the Nepali community.
Residents said villagers from Tiporam had earlier been evacuated to Makui following the violence. They returned but were allegedly fired upon and subsequently took shelter again at a relief centre in Makui, around 15 km away.
Residents also alleged that security forces had been informed about the arson but no action was taken until September 2.
The incidents came amid heightened tensions between communities in the region. Reports said 17 people from the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities had been killed in separate incidents since May 13. Four Naga civilians were reportedly killed in an August 27 ambush, while three Kuki civilians were killed in an August 31 attack along the Imphal–Tamenglong road in Kangpokpi and Tamenglong districts.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for the reported attacks, and investigations were underway.
