The bodies of three 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 along the border of Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts, PTI quoted officials as saying.

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The deceased have been identified as Arubam Ronil (35), Lairenlakpam Inaobi (51) and Kshetrimayum Sushil (32). While Ronil and Inaobi died on the spot, Sushil succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital. Three other people sustained injuries in the attack, while three people were reported missing, according to officials.

Following the killings, angry locals brought the bodies to the state capital and placed them outside the main gate of the chief minister’s residence in Babupara, Imphal. The protest came amid continuing tensions in Manipur, where ethnic violence has persisted since May 2023.

Protests were also reported elsewhere in Imphal. Protesters blocked a road at Khurai Lamlong, while a group of women staged a demonstration at Ema Keithel market. Markets and shops across the state capital shut following the killings.

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, following which the bodies were shifted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.

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The injured, undergoing treatment at a private hospital, include N Suraj (19), Meisnam Somendro (53) and K Bosan (45).

Following the protest, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh visited the injured at the hospital but did not respond to media queries. Security was also tightened around the chief minister’s bungalow and on roads leading to it.

(With PTI Inputs)