Imphal, Nov. 1 -- The mutilated bodies of two Kuki youths, who had gone missing from a village in Manipur's Kangpokpi district three days ago, were recovered from a banana farm in neighbouring Senapati district on Sunday, triggering protests and clashes between agitators and security forces. In a separate incident, three Kuki men were killed in a gunfight between rival armed groups in Noney district, police said.
The bodies of T Chongloi (21) and Paoginlal Hangsing (20) were found stuffed in gunny bags during a search operation along the boundary of Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. The two had gone missing from Taphou Kuki village on October 29.
Joint teams comprising Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Assam Rifles and Rapid Action Force (RAF) conducted an extensive search in the hilly areas east of National Highway 2, along the SP Road connecting the two districts.
Following the recovery, protesters alleging that the youths had been abducted and killed by "Naga militants" clashed with security personnel outside the Superintendent of Police's office in Kangpokpi district headquarters. Security forces resorted to baton-charge and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. The agitators claimed that some demonstrators sustained injuries.
In another incident, three Kuki men were killed in an exchange of fire between rival armed groups at Kekru Naga village in Noney district on Saturday. The gunfight continued for several hours in the forested hill area.
The deceased were identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen, residents of the interior areas of Henglep and Thanlon in Churachandpur district. A police officer said Kuki civil organisations had identified them as village volunteers.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.