Guwahati: Fresh violence erupted in Manipur's Kamjong district on Thursday after unidentified miscreants allegedly set fire to six houses at Kultuk, a Kuki village, and gunned down two people, police said.A senior police official who did not want to be named, said, "Six houses were destroyed in the fire. Two people lost their lives. A police team has been dispatched to the village to assess the situation and investigate the incident."Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, an office of the Naga People's Front (NPF) at Liangmai Taphou in Senapati district was set ablaze amid growing anger and grief over the recovery of the bodies of six people who were held hostage. Their mutilated bodies were recovered on Wednesday from a forested area near Kharam Vaiphei village, in Saitu-Gamphazol sub-division of Kangpokpi district.The bodies have been kept at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. Security forces had to fire tear gas shells to control the crowd that gathered outside the hospital on Wednesday night.UNC, an apex body of Nagas, called a shutdown from 6 am on June 11 to 6 am on June 12 in protest against the killing of six villagers who were abducted by armed groups belonging to different tribal communities on May 13. The shutdown severely disrupted normal life across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur with shops and markets remaining closed throughout the day, while government and private offices, educational institutions and financial establishments suspended operations. Private vehicles and passenger transport largely stayed off the roads.UNC announced that the mortal remains of the six Naga hostages would not be received until its four-point charter of demands is addressed and justice is ensured by both the Manipur government and the Centre.Among its key demands are the abrogation of the suspension of operations agreement with all Kuki militant groups and immediate arrest and prosecution of all Kuki National Front cadres allegedly involved in the abduction of 18 Naga civilians, including two pastors, from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13 and the subsequent killing of six of them.Manipur CM Y Khemchand Singh had earlier stated that cases related to the abduction of the six Naga villagers, along with the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district, had already been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a detailed probe.The recovery of the bodies of the six Naga civilians came just hours after 14 hostages belonging to the Kuki community were released on Tuesday (June 9) following nearly four weeks in captivity.At least 50 people belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities were allegedly held hostage by different armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts following the violent incidents of May 13, during which three church leaders were killed and four others were injured in Kangpokpi district. Around 30 individuals from both communities were released on May 14 and May 15 following sustained efforts by authorities, community leaders, and several civil society organisations.
Violence grips Manipur again: 2 shot dead and houses burnt
Fresh violence has erupted in Manipur's Kamjong district. Six houses were set ablaze in a Kuki village, and two people were killed. This follows the recovery of six abducted Naga hostages. Their mutilated bodies were found in a forested area. The Naga People's Front called for a shutdown in protest. The UNC demands justice and the arrest of those involved.











