In India’s turbulent Manipur state, at least 13 individuals lost their lives in a clash between two unidentified militant groups on Monday, as reported by a police official. The incident occurred seven months after ethnic conflicts in the border state resulted in the deaths of at least 180 people.
The bodies, bearing multiple gunshot wounds, were discovered in a village in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, where authorities received reports of a “massive” gunfight. The state has been witnessing intermittent violence since the height of ethnic clashes that erupted on May 3, involving the majority Meitei ethnic group and the minority Kuki community. The clashes centered around the distribution of government benefits and quotas and marked a notable security challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in a state governed by his Bharatiya Janata Party.
According to a senior police official speaking from the state capital Imphal, no weapons were found in close proximity to the deceased. The official, who requested anonymity, suggested that it’s possible the weapons were taken after the individuals were killed. The authorities have not yet been able to ascertain the identities of the deceased or the militant groups involved.
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