Ranit Kr. Singh , Imphal – Three civilians were killed and seven houses reduced to ashes during a suspected militant attack on Loibol Khullen village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district early Friday morning. According to the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body for Kuki-Zo tribes, heavily armed cadres launched the assault at around 4:00 AM, destroying civilian properties and inflicting immeasurable grief on the community. The victims, identified as Letkhongam Haokip (34), his wife Tinmary Haokip (30), and Jangminlal Haokip (34), were all local residents. Police are yet to issue an official comment on the incident, and there has been no immediate response from the insurgent groups named by the tribal bodies.

The deadly assault marks a fresh flare-up in Manipur's protracted ethnic conflict, which has plagued the northeastern state since May 2023. The unrest originally erupted following protests over Scheduled Tribe status demands, fracturing the region along ethnic lines and displacing roughly 60,000 people. While the overall intensity of the conflict has waned over time, sporadic gunfights, ambushes, and arson continue to plague vulnerable border villages across Kangpokpi, Imphal East, and Churachandpur districts.

In a formal statement issued following the tragedy, KIM strongly condemned the incident and demanded immediate intervention from central authorities. "The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be held fully accountable," the organization stated, describing the assault as a barbaric violation of human rights and adding, "the deliberate killing of innocent people and destruction of homes constitutes a serious violation of human dignity. We call on the Government of India to launch an immediate investigation, apprehend those responsible, and strengthen security in vulnerable villages to prevent further attacks."