At least three persons suspected to be Kuki militants sustained serious gunshot injuries in a gunfight with an armed group believed to be Naga Village Guards (NVGs) near Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district today morning.
According to reports, the exchange of fire took place around 6 a.m. in the area between Leilon Vaiphei and Konsakhul villages under Leimakhong Police Station. The injured were initially provided medical treatment at the Military Hospital in Leimakhong before being shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, as their condition reportedly deteriorated.
The injured were identified as Paogoulal Chongloi (18), son of Seitinmang of P. Moulding, Leimakhong; Genlenmang Vaiphei (18), son of Papao Vaiphei of Mission Veng; and Lunliandaw Vaiphei (20), son of T.S. Adal Vaiphei of Kamu Tangnom in Senapati district. Sources said all three sustained bullet injuries to various parts of their bodies, including the chest, shoulder, stomach and back.
Local sources alleged that the incident began when armed men opened fire at farmers from Konsakhul village who were proceeding to paddy fields near Leilon Vaiphei for cultivation. The farmers reportedly escaped unharmed and informed members of the NVGs, who rushed to the area and engaged the armed group.
The gunfight reportedly lasted for about 30 minutes before personnel of the 158th and 112th Companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), stationed at Konsakhul, arrived at the scene around 6.40 a.m., bringing the situation under control.
A tense situation later unfolded at RIMS after news spread that the injured persons had been admitted for treatment. Their arrival triggered protests by a large number of people who gathered on the hospital premises and opposed the admission of the injured men.
As the crowd grew, security personnel intensified deployment around the hospital and temporarily closed the main gate, disrupting the movement of patients, attendants and staff. Hospital services were affected for several hours as security forces attempted to contain the situation.
Protesters raised slogans against the treatment of the injured persons, alleging that they were militants. Some women who attempted to stage demonstrations at the hospital gate were stopped by security personnel. As tensions escalated and the crowd swelled, security forces reportedly fired mock bombs to disperse the protesters.
Speaking to the media, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) leader T.P. Dining questioned the role of security forces in escorting the injured persons to RIMS. Claiming that the clash involved Kuki militant groups, he alleged that security agencies had facilitated the transportation and protection of militants.
Dining also referred to the recent killing of six Naga civilians, which he attributed to Kuki militants, and demanded accountability from the authorities. He further alleged that both the Central and State governments were supporting Kuki militant groups, a claim that has not been independently verified.
Despite heavy security deployment, protesters later entered the hospital compound and continued demonstrations against the admission of the injured persons. Security personnel remained on high alert throughout the day to prevent any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, farmers working in agricultural fields at Khurkhul in Imphal West district reported hearing two loud explosions and over a hundred rounds of gunfire at around the same time as the clash near Leilon Vaiphei. The farmers reportedly abandoned their work and fled the area.
No official statement had been issued by the police or security agencies regarding the gunfight or the identities and affiliations of those involved at the time of filing this report.