A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was injured during a gunfight between security forces and unidentified armed individuals in the Taphou area of Manipur’s Senapati district on Monday, hours after two houses belonging to different communities were set ablaze by an unknown group of people in the area, officials aware of the matter said.
Officials said the houses belonged to members of the Kuki community and the Poumai community (a sub-community of the Nagas). The reason for the attack was not immediately known, they added.
“He (the injured jawan) was evacuated and admitted to the Senapati district hospital; he is now out of danger,” a senior officer said. The jawan was identified as 54-year-old Pradeep Singh, a sub-inspector at F/36 battalion.
Following the incident, local residents staged a protest and blocked National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur) at Senapati headquarters.
The Taphou Kuki Village authority condemned the burning of a Kuki house, demanding immediate action. The village authority also served a 24-hour deadline for the culprits involved in the incident to claim responsibility and resolve the issue according to community law.
Tension between the Naga and Kuki communities has been simmering in the area since the twin ambush carried out at two different locations on May 13.
On the same day, 48 civilians belonging to Naga and Kuki-Zo were kidnapped by both the groups in retaliatory tension. Later, nearly after a month of captivity all the hostages were set free however. Six Naga men, however, were found dead near Kharam Vaiphei (Kuki village) in Kangpokpi district.
