IMPHAL, Oct. 20 -- Three people were killed and three others sustained bullet injuries in an ambush carried out by armed miscreants suspected to be armed Kuki militants on Monday at Khongban Sunurok, village in Manipur's Imphal East district, police said. The incident came after July 13 bomb attack incident at Torbung Bangla, Bishnupur by armed Kuki groups targeting Meitei community. According to police, the deceased have been identified as one Lairenlakpam Inaobi (57), Arubam Ronin (35) both from Nongshum village and Keshtrimayum Susil (32) Uyumpok village (both neighbouring villages in Imphal East bordering Kangpokpi district. And the three injured are identified as Ngangom Suraj (19), Meisnam Somendro( 53), and Khomdram Bosan (45) all resident of Nongshum village. Officials said Inaobi and Ronin died on the spot during the ambush while Susil succumbed to his injuries at the hospital premises in Imphal. The injured were rushed to a private hospital in Imphal. Hospital authority told HT, "All the injured has been given adequate treatment and all are in stable condition." Ngangom Darashing Meitei, father of Suraj (injured) told HT, "Around 16 of villagers went to Khongban Sunurok village to collect firewoods. Some armed miscreants wearing red ribbon at the barrel of sophisticated rifles who were taking position behind a pile of cut firewoods open fire towards them." "We have been collecting firewood frequently as there is no violence in the past over 6 months in the area but attacking to innocent villagers, government need to take stringent action," said Darashing Meitei. A survivor during the ambush identified himself as Thokchom Kiranjit told media, "Today we went to collect the firewood, when we reach the spot we saw some unidentified armed miscreants hiding behind the pile of firewood. one of us shouted them who are they. instantly they open fire towards us from a very close range around 10-15 metre. we ran back at safety locations for our lives." Local Congress MLA, Th Lokeshwar while visiting the injured at the hospital told media that, "After getting assurance from the Assam Rifles for safety, the villagers went to collect firewood from the hillock. those culprits could be easily nab if the government conduct a mass operation in the area. Especially 'Sinai Camp' [a designated camp for Kuki militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO)] which is located 31 km distance." He said "hundreds of Kuki-Zo communities are coming here in Imphal International Airport, even they are getting treatment in RIMS hospital and others. They feel safe when they came here but what about the Meitei community even, we are targeted in peripheral areas of Meitei dominated areas." "If the government failed to nap those preparators within 24 hours, what is the need of having such government," Congress MLA questioned. Meanwhile, an irate mob despite tight security forces brought the body of Inaobi and Ronin in a truck and kept in front of Chief Minister's residence in Babupara, Imphal in protest of failure to protect the civilians. Security forces assorted to tear gas shells and disperse the mob while the two bodies were left in front of CM's residence main gate. Police said, the body has been recovered and deposited at Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Imphal West. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand along with other BJP legislators including Thokchom Radheshyam came to visit the injured at the hospital. However, he denied to giver any comment to media in connection with the incident despite Khemchand has been saying peace and normalcy has started restoring. Additionally, local bodies along the stretch of NH-202 (Imphal-Nagaland via Ukhrul) from Lamlong bazar to Sagolmang (around 35 km) announced total shutdown with immediate effect and will continued till Wednesday midnight. One Ningthoukhongjam Sanatomba identified himself as general secretary of Iramam Kanba Apunba Lup (IKAL), made the announcement at Khurai Lamlong bazar in front of media along with hundreds of protestors who started blocking the highway (NH-202) Tension escalated in Imphal city as Khwairamband Ima Market vendors shut down all the market places with immediate effect. Manipur has been under crisis since May 3, 2023 between Meitei and Kuki-Zo. The crisis has claimed over 306 lives and 49 are still missing till August 31, 2026, according to Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam. The Congress on Monday slammed the Manipur government after suspected militants shot dead three firewood collectors, saying "continued killings have made people feel orphaned" and seeking Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh's resignation. Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Keisham Meghachandra expressed deep sorrow over the death and alleged that the Y Khemchand Singh government has failed to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur. "The continued loss of innocent lives reflects the grave security challenges confronting the state and raises serious questions about the government's handling of the ongoing crisis," he told reporters. Former chief minister N Biren Singh visited three persons injured in the gun attack. Talking to reporters later, he said, "Everyone has been told that peace has returned. As a Manipuri and as a Meitei, we cannot keep counting the dead. Continued killings have made people feel orphaned....