The bodies of two men allegedly killed by suspected militants while collecting firewood in Manipur were placed outside Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s residence in Imphal on Monday, as angry locals protested against the fresh killings in the violence-hit state.
The incident occurred after a group of 16 people went to the hills near their village at around 7 am to collect firewood. They were allegedly ambushed by armed militants in the Khongbal Sunurok Uyok area of Kangpokpi district, close to Nongshum village in Imphal East, PTI quoted officials.
The deceased have been identified as Arubam Ronil, 35, and Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 51. Four other people sustained injuries in the attack, while three people were reported missing, according to officials.
Following the killings, locals brought the bodies to the state capital and placed them outside the main gate of the chief minister’s bungalow in Imphal. The protest came amid continuing tensions in Manipur, where ethnic violence has persisted since May 2023.
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The sudden arrival of the protesters and the bodies caught security personnel deployed outside the chief minister’s residence by surprise. Police subsequently fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
The bodies were later shifted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal. Ksh Deven, one of the injured, was also said to be in critical condition.
There was no immediate report on whether Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh was present at his official residence, as the protestors had gathered outside the bungalow.
(With PTI Inputs)