Multiple shootings kill four; tensions rise in Imphal
Imphal witnessed renewed violence on Monday after at least four people were killed in two separate shooting incidents, media reports and local officials said. The killings prompted angry demonstrations in the city, with protesters carrying bodies to the high-security residence of Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh and clashing with security personnel.
In the first incident, three villagers collecting firewood in hills near the boundary between Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts were allegedly shot dead by suspected militants, according to local media and a statement by MLA Thokchom Lokeshor Singh. Three others were reported wounded and taken to hospital.
"The victims were collecting firewood near the boundary between Imphal East and Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district when they came under attack," MLA Thokchom Lokeshor Singh said, according to media reports.
The three deceased in the first attack were identified in media reports as Arubam Ronil, 35; Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 44; and Kshetrimayum Sushil, 32. The injured—named in reports as Meisnam Somendro, 55; Bonson Khingdram, 45; and Ngangom Suraj, 22—were admitted to Raj Medicity Hospital in Imphal.
Assam Rifles personnel had earlier assured the firewood collectors of protection, the MLA told media, and security arrangements were subsequently stepped up at the site, according to reports.
Separate shooting at musical event
In a second incident, a 24-year-old man died after being shot during violence that erupted at a musical event in a locality inhabited by Meiteis and Pangal Muslims, media accounts said. The episode reportedly involved stone-pelting and gunfire and left several people injured.
The two incidents together have deepened apprehensions about the fragile security situation in the state, where tensions between Meitei and Kuki communities have persisted since ethnic clashes first erupted in May 2023.
Protests and police action
Angry residents staged protests in Imphal after the killings. Demonstrators carried the bodies of two victims to the Chief Minister’s high-security residence, demanding action against those responsible, media reports said. Authorities removed the bodies, and police used tear gas and carried out a lathi-charge to disperse protesters who had entered the premises, according to the same accounts.
Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh visited the injured at Raj Medicity Hospital while security personnel worked to secure the sites of the fatal shootings, media reports added.
- Fatalities: 4 (three at Imphal East–Kangpokpi border; one at a musical event)
- Injured: At least 3 wounded from the firewood-collector attack; several others injured in the musical event violence
- Hospital: Raj Medicity Hospital, Imphal (injured admitted)
| Incident | Casualties (reported) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Attack on firewood collectors | 3 killed; 3 injured | Boundary of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts |
| Violence at musical event | 1 killed; several injured | Locality inhabited by Meiteis and Pangal Muslims (Imphal) |
The killings and ensuing protests have renewed concerns over law and order in Manipur. Media reports cited local elected representatives and hospital sources for casualty details; official police releases confirming the totals were not available at the time of reporting.
Authorities have not publicly named any suspects in the attacks. Given the sensitive communal context and ongoing security operations in parts of the state, officials have been cautious in confirming details until formal investigations progress, media reports said.
Further updates are awaited from police and government sources regarding arrests, the progress of investigations and measures being taken to restore calm in affected areas.
