In Manipur, at least three killed in Naga factional clash; passenger vehicles fired upon in separate incident

New Delhi: At least three suspected militants were killed in a predawn gunfight between rival Naga armed groups in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday, with conflicting accounts of the casualties and the factions involved. Hours later, unidentified gunmen fired on vehicles travelling towards Ukhrul in a separate incident, although no injuries were reported among their occupants.

The clash erupted at Taodaijang village, also referred to as Buanruang, under Nungba police station, with reports placing the first shots between 3.30am and 4am. Residents recovered three bodies, while local women approached the area and used loudspeakers to urge the armed groups to stop firing.

However, reports available on until Thursday morning continued to differ over the toll. A Times of India and a PTI dispatch reported three deaths, while NDTV’s Wednesday account put the figure at four. Injury estimates also varied, leaving the final casualty count unresolved.

Rival factions and competing accounts

An updated account by Ukhrul Times described the fighting as involving the Zeliangrong United Front’s Jenchui faction, or ZUF-J, and a combined force comprising its Kamson faction, or ZUF-K, and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim’s Isak-Muivah faction, or NSCN-IM. Citing local sources, it reported that two of those killed belonged to ZUF-J and the third to ZUF-K.

However, the affiliations were not consistently established across the coverage, and NDTV attributed a different breakdown to police sources. In the PTI account, ZUF-J acknowledged losing two members and alleged the involvement of NSCN-IM, ZUF-K and the Niki Sumi faction of NSCN-K – an allegation that should not be treated as an independently established account of the fighting.

EastMojo identified the three dead as Meijianthui Thaimei, 25; Aihung Khumba, 22; and Gainingam Kamei, 20; although spellings and some personal details differed in other reports. Their bodies were handed to their families after post-mortem examinations at Nungba community health centre.

The fighting followed a November 1 statement in which ZUF-K accused ZUF-J of collaborating with security forces. That accusation provides context to the rivalry, but the available accounts do not conclusively establish what immediately triggered the exchange of fire.

Peace agreement forms part of the backdrop

ZUF emerged in 2011 and operates principally in the Zeliangrong-inhabited areas of Manipur, particularly Tamenglong and Noney districts. The Zeliangrong community comprises the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei peoples, while the organization has subsequently divided into rival factions.

The Jenchui faction has been associated with the cessation of operations agreement signed on December 27, 2022, between the Centre, the Manipur government and ZUF representatives. The Union home ministry’s announcement said the signatories had agreed to give up violence and participate in the democratic process, with provisions for rehabilitation and resettlement of armed cadres.

The agreement also provided for a joint monitoring group to oversee compliance with its ground rules. It was an arrangement to halt armed activity and facilitate a political process; the government’s announcement did not describe it as a final settlement of the group’s demands.

Vehicles targeted on Imphal-Ukhrul road

In the separate incident later on Wednesday, vehicles travelling from Imphal towards Ukhrul came under fire between Leingangching and TM Kasom on National Highway-202. Officials placed the shooting at about 4.45pm and said nobody was injured.

The vehicles included passenger transport and a goods-laden truck, according tolocal outlets, which reported that their security escort had withdrawn at Litan before the shooting. Passengers took cover and escaped physical injury; the reports reviewed did not establish a connection between this attack and the earlier Noney gunfight.

The road attack coincided with continuing disruption in neighbouring Kangpokpi, where the Committee on Tribal Unity extended its shutdown until 5pm on Friday. The organization said the government had failed to meet its demands over the killing of two Kuki-Zo civilians and announced that the extended protest would operate without exemptions.

On Thursday, Northeast Now reported that the shutdown was continuing to disrupt long-distance transport between Imphal, Nagaland and Assam. Drivers were also reported to be waiting around Litan for security escorts, underlining the difficulties facing passenger and commercial traffic.

District peace committees announced

The renewed violence comes as the state government moves to establish peace committees in all 16 districts, under an order issued on October 30 and made public on November 3. Each committee is to be chaired by the district magistrate and include police and administrative officers alongside community and civil society representatives.

Their stated purpose is to maintain dialogue, address grievances and prevent local tensions from escalating into violence. The initiative seeks to create continuing contact between the administration and communities whose relations have deteriorated during the state’s prolonged unrest.

Manipur’s wider conflict began with Meitei-Kuki violence in May 2023, while subsequent Naga-Kuki confrontations have added another layer to the insecurity. So far, the conflict has claimed more than 300 lives and left over 60,000 people displaced, many still living in temporary shelters.