Bodies of two abducted Kuki men found in Manipur; fresh clashes erupt

Tensions escalated sharply in Kangpokpi district of Manipur on Wednesday following the recovery of two Kuki men whose bodies were found after they disappeared nearly a fortnight ago. The men had been reportedly taken by unidentified assailants on October 28 while traveling between Hengbung and Taphou Kuki village.

The discovery prompted immediate confrontations between communities in the district, with at least three people sustaining injuries during the resulting clashes. Emergency services were mobilized to control the situation as anger spread through Kuki-inhabited areas following news of the deaths.

The incident marks a fresh flashpoint in Kangpokpi district, which has remained volatile amid the broader ethnic tensions that have gripped Manipur since May 2023. The abduction and subsequent death of the two men has intensified concerns over the security situation in the region and the fate of other missing persons.

Authorities have initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding the abduction and deaths. The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by armed groups operating in various parts of the state, where communal violence has displaced thousands and claimed numerous lives since the crisis began earlier this year.