Daijiworld Media Network - Imphal
Imphal, Mar 29: An office of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) was set on fire by an angry mob in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Sunday, following the killing of four cadres in a suspected factional attack.
According to officials, the mob targeted the outfit’s Wung regional office after news spread that four members of the group were shot dead in neighbouring Kamjong district on Saturday. The killings reportedly occurred when armed men from a rival group intercepted a vehicle carrying six cadres at Hongbei village and opened fire, killing four on the spot while two others escaped.
Tensions escalated rapidly across Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, both sensitive areas along the Myanmar border. Protesters, accusing members of the outfit of involvement in the killings, gathered at the office and set it ablaze during a confrontation. No casualties were reported in the incident.
Police later reached the site of the attack and recovered the bodies of the slain cadres. Meanwhile, sources within the NSCN-IM said no directive had been issued from its leadership to target any group and confirmed that an internal inquiry has been initiated to determine the circumstances behind the violence.
Amid the unrest, a delegation of civil society organisations from Ukhrul, along with Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh, met Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to review the situation.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of restoring peace and maintaining communal harmony, noting that stability is essential for development in the region. He also highlighted the need for continued efforts to address tensions and infrastructure challenges in the district.
The latest incident adds to a series of disturbances in Ukhrul and Kamjong since February, underscoring the fragile security situation in the region.