Guwahati: The death of a 49-year-old man injured in the firing by unidentified gunmen at Kalenjang village in Manipur’s Senapati district has raised the toll in the attack to three. He succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital early Sunday.Earlier, on Saturday afternoon, two Naga civilians were killed and two others were injured in the firing, which reportedly took place inside the Kalengjang village chief’s residence between 2.30 pm and 3 pm on Saturday.The injured men, Adani Manio, 33, and Asiho Sani, 49, were taken to a private hospital in Senapati. However, Sani died around 3 am on Sunday, after which his body was sent to Senapati district hospital for autopsy.The two men killed in the attack were identified as Rocky Mao of Chowainamei village and Kumar Poumai of Laii Shirafii village.Naga youths held a condolence service in Senapati on Sunday amid concerns over further attacks on Naga civilians.The latest incident came about 48 hours after four Tangkhul Naga civilians were shot dead at Pilong village in Kamjong district, near the Myanmar border, on Thursday. They were allegedly killed by suspected Myanmar-based Kuki militants.Strongly condemning the attack on Naga civilians, Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh wrote on social media: “The attack is a cowardly act of violence against innocent lives.”Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen called for a thorough investigation and said those responsible must be brought to justice. “At the same time, I appeal to everyone not to allow this tragedy to become another reason for further violence or hostility between communities,” she said.The incidents have intensified concerns over the Naga-Kuki tensions that began in February this year, following the ethnic violence between Kuki and Meitei communities that erupted in May 2023.
