Suspected militants attacked Chawangkining Naga village in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Tuesday night and burnt down at least two houses, and CRPF personnel deployed in the nearby area returned fire, according to officials. The attack came hours after two Kuki-Zo women were shot dead at Leisangphai village in neighbouring Tamenglong district on Tuesday, the same day.
Militants burn houses in Manipur village; two Kuki-Zo women shot dead
Suspected militants attacked Chawangkining Naga village in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Tuesday night and burnt down at least two houses, and CRPF personnel deployed in the nearby area returned fire, according to officials. The attack came hours after two Kuki-Zo women were shot dead at Leisangphai village in neighbouring Tamenglong district on Tuesday, the same day.
Officials said a large number of militants armed with sophisticated weapons attacked the village around 10.30pm. CRPF personnel deployed in the nearby area returned fire, triggering intermittent firing that continued for nearly six hours until around 4.30am on Wednesday. "Intermittent firing was reported for nearly six hours till 4.30 am on Wednesday. The CRPF returned fire, preventing the militants from entering the village," the official said, adding that two wooden houses at the periphery of the village were burnt down.
The two women killed in Tamenglong district were identified as Kimjalhai Singson, 28, a nursing graduate, and Phalneichong Sitlhou, 76, both residents of the same village. Sitlhou, a widow, was shot while gathering firewood at her farm, while Singson, who had recently completed her nursing course, had returned home to help her parents with farming.
On Wednesday, senior Naga leader and Naga Peoples' Front legislator Awangbou Newmai condemned the killing of the two women and the burning of houses at Chawangkining, and a Kuki MLA from Saikul constituency in Kangpokpi district also condemned the killings, saying one of the victims had recently graduated in nursing.
- The source does not name the Kuki MLA from Saikul constituency who condemned the killings, identifying her only by constituency and district.
- The source does not identify the suspected militants who attacked Chawangkining Naga village.
- The source does not state whether anyone was arrested, detained or charged over the attack on Chawangkining Naga village or over the killing of the two women.
- The source does not state whether the attack on Chawangkining Naga village and the killing of the two women in Tamenglong district are connected.
- The source does not state whether anyone was injured in the Chawangkining attack.
- The source does not give calendar dates for either incident, referring only to Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Read the original at The Times of India