Four Killed in Gun Attack in Manipur’s Churachandpur District
Tensions in Manipur escalated further on Monday when four people, including a 60-year-old woman, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen near Mongjang village in Churachandpur district. The brutal attack occurred around 2 PM as the victims were travelling in a vehicle along a remote stretch roughly seven kilometers from Churachandpur town.
According to preliminary findings, the assailants opened fire at close range in a carefully timed ambush, with police recovering at least 12 empty shell casings at the scene. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released, though authorities confirmed all were residents of the region.
Possible Militant Rivalry Behind the Attack
While no group has claimed responsibility so far, investigators are not ruling out the possibility of the killings being linked to internal rivalries among Kuki-Zo militant factions. Some early inputs suggest that the victims may have had affiliations with Kuki outfits that are currently under suspension-of-operations agreements with the government.
Manipur has been witnessing volatile and prolonged ethnic tensions, especially between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities, further exacerbated by the presence of various armed groups operating under uneasy ceasefires. This incident marks one of the most serious flare-ups in recent weeks, raising fears of renewed retaliatory violence in the already sensitive region.
Security Forces on High Alert
Following the attack, local police and additional paramilitary units rushed to secure the area and launch search operations. Forensic teams are examining the crime scene while efforts are underway to track the assailants, who are believed to have fled into the nearby forested hills.
Authorities are appealing for calm and cooperation as investigations proceed. Meanwhile, the incident has prompted concern among civil society groups and political leaders, many of whom have demanded stronger action to prevent such targeted killings.
