Manipur violence: Kuki woman killed in security operation crossfire after attack on Meitei farmer; indefinite shutdown in Churachandpur

An elderly woman named Hoikholhing Haokip, the wife of the Langchingmanbi village chief, was caught in the crossfire and fatally shot. (Photo credit:@kso_shillong)

An elderly woman from the Kuki community was allegedly killed in a crossfire between security forces and suspected Kuki militants in Chingphei village of Churachandpur district on Thursday, shortly after a gun attack left a Meitei farmer injured in neighbouring Phubala village of Bishnupur district, India Today reported.

The shots allegedly came from the nearby hills, prompting security forces to launch a search operation to track down the attackers. As part of the operation, security personnel entered the areas of Langchingmanbi, Heichanglok, and surrounding villages. During the search, they were fired upon by unidentified armed men and returned fire, according to a report by news agency PTI.

In the midst of this exchange of gunfire, an elderly woman named Hoikholhing Haokip, the wife of the Langchingmanbi village chief, was caught in the crossfire and fatally shot. Her body was later taken to the Churachandpur District Hospital for post-mortem examination. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

Officials stated that combined security forces are continuing their operations in the area. "All efforts are being made to identify and bring the culprits to justice as soon as possible," the police said.

The incident has drawn strong reactions from community groups. The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) condemned the killing, calling it ‘brutal’ and ‘a grim reminder of ongoing ethnic violence’ against the Kuki community. In a statement, KWOHR alleged that the woman was ‘shot dead by Meitei militants,’ and claimed the incident was part of a larger pattern of targeted violence.

In response, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) announced an indefinite shutdown in Churachandpur as a mark of protest and mourning for the elderly woman’s death.

Earlier in the day, the Meitei farmer who was shot, identified as Ningthoujam Biren, was hospitalised with gunshot wounds. “I was working in the fields when five rounds were fired,” PTI quoted him as saying. Farmers, who were working with him, claimed that the shots were fired from the nearby hills.

Phubala, the area where the shooting occurred, is located on the edge of the Imphal valley, with hills of Churachandpur bordering it on one side. In protest of the shooting, residents of Phubala called for a local shutdown and temporarily blocked security forces' movement in parts of the district.

This latest incident comes amid ongoing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities. Since ethnic clashes erupted in May 2023, more than 250 people have lost their lives in Manipur, PTI report said.