Imphal: Three Kuki-Zo villagers, including a married couple, were killed and seven houses were burnt in fresh violence that erupted early Friday morning in a Kuki-inhabited village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district.At around 4am, armed men attacked Loibol Khullen village in Saitu Gamphazol subdivision of Kangpokpi district. The identity of the attackers is yet to be confirmed.The deceased have been identified as Letkhongam Haokip and his wife Tinmary Haokip and Jangminlal Haokip.CM Y Khemchand Singh condemned the attack and said, “The deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians is completely unacceptable, and the govt will not spare those responsible for this barbaric act,” Singh said in a statement.The CM also directed the state police and other security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators at the earliest and enhance security in vulnerable areas.Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen said, “The killing of three innocent persons and the burning of homes by unidentified armed miscreants is a tragic and unacceptable act. The govt is taking this incident very seriously.”He appealed to people to “not be provoked by those who seek to create fear and division”.State home minister Konthoujam Govindas said he had not yet received an official report on the Loibol Khullen killings.The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of Kuki tribes in the state, also denounced the attack and demanded an investigation to apprehend the perpetrators.
