Three people were killed in a gunfight — after two weeks without any major incidents — in Manipur”s Ukhrul district on Friday, police said.
The gunfight broke out in Thowai village near Litan early in the morning, according to reports.
The police and security forces rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control. A thorough search operation was carried out by civil society groups in surrounding villages and forest areas before the bodies were recovered.
Over 180 people have been killed and thousands have been displaced in the recent ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur.
The violence erupted on May 3, 2023, after the Meitei community demanded Scheduled Tribes (ST) status.
The failure of the authorities and the silence of the governments in both state and centre — ruled by BJP — had invited huge protests in the country and had also invited a no-confidence motion in the Parliament agaisnt the central government.
Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 77th Independence day this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India stands with the people of Manipur and expressed confidence that there shall be a peaceful resolution of the problems there. PM Modi had faced heavy criticism in the recent times from opposition in regard to not speaking on the Manipur violence.