A fresh wave of violence has shaken India’s Manipur after five Kuki men were killed in two separate incidents within 48 hours, triggering angry protests, clashes with security forces and renewed fears of ethnic retaliation.

The recovery of two young men's bodies in Kangpokpi district has brought simmering tensions back to the surface in a state still struggling to contain deep-rooted ethnic divisions. Both victims, Paoginlal Hangsing and Tinginlun Chongloi, were aged 20 and had been missing for several days.

Their bodies were recovered during a joint security operation, but the discovery quickly turned into a flashpoint. Angry residents took to the streets, clashes erupted and security personnel fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Protesters also blocked National Highway-2, bringing movement to a halt as shops and private institutions remained closed under a shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU).

According to NDTV, the circumstances surrounding the clashes were not immediately clear, while the extent of casualties and damage remained unknown.

The CoTU has refused to claim the bodies until the government addresses its demands, including the immediate removal of Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho. Police subsequently moved the bodies to the office of the Kangpokpi superintendent of police as protests continued.

The latest killings followed another deadly incident in neighbouring Noney district, where three Kuki men were shot dead in an exchange of gunfire between two unidentified groups at Kekru Naga village. They were identified as Thanglensang Singson, Thangkhosei Haokip and Lamminsang Kipgen.

Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex organisation representing Kuki tribes, accused armed cadres of involvement in the killings and alleged that the victims' bodies had been desecrated. It also charged authorities with failing to protect Kuki-Zo settlements and demanded accountability and stronger security measures.

The back-to-back killings have heightened anxiety among Kuki communities, raising the prospect of further violence in a state where ethnic mistrust continues to undermine security and everyday life. Despite security deployments, the latest incidents suggest that the fragile situation remains far from settled.

Police said investigations were under way to identify those responsible and establish the circumstances behind both incidents.

BOB Post