Four persons, including a leader of the Kuki National Army and a 72-year-old woman, were killed on Monday by unidentified gunmen in Manipur’s Churachandpur, said the police.

The firing occurred near Mongjang village in the district around 1 pm as the victims were travelling in a car.

Among those who died was Thenkhothang or Thahpi, the deputy commander-in-chief of the Kuki National Army, which is a faction of the Kuki National Organisation. The Kuki National Organisation is one of two umbrella groups that signed a Suspension of Operations agreement with the Centre in 2008 – the other being the United People’s Front.

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Under the agreement, the security forces as well as the militant groups are prohibited from launching operations. The militant groups must abide by the laws of the land and are also confined to designated camps identified by the Central government.

The other victims of Monday’s shooting were identified as 72-year-old Phalhing, who was a resident of Koite village, 35-year-old Seikhogin, who was from Teiseng, and 35-year-old Lengouhao of Chengkon.

Over 12 empty shells were recovered from the spot, PTI reported.

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“Preliminary investigation suggests that the Hyundai Creta car was ambushed leading to the death of those inside the vehicle,” the Manipur Police stated on Tuesday. “An FIR has been registered in connection with the case at Churachandpur police station for further investigation.”

It added: “Security measures have been taken up in order to prevent any escalation of violence. Operations have been launched by security forces to arrest the culprits involved in the incident.”

The United Kuki National Army, a group that has not signed the Suspension of Operations agreement with the Centre, claimed responsibility for the attack. It alleged that Thahpi had been responsible for the killings of two of its members.

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Manipur has been mired in ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities that have killed at least 260 persons and displaced more than 59,000 persons since May 2023. There were periodic upticks in violence in 2024.

President’s Rule was imposed in February after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned.