Three Kukis killed in Manipur violence amid ceasefire tensions

Three members of the Kuki community were killed in gunfire in Manipur on Tuesday as violence flared in the state's ongoing ethnic conflict. The incident occurred against a backdrop of intensifying calls to abandon a suspension of operations (SoO) agreement between state authorities and Kuki-Zo armed organizations.

Meitei and Naga groups have organized public demonstrations in Imphal, the state capital, demanding the termination of the ceasefire arrangement. The rallies reflect deepening divisions between communities over efforts to negotiate peace in a region that has experienced recurring cycles of violence.

The Suspension of Operations agreement, established to reduce active hostilities between security forces and designated armed groups, has become a flashpoint of contention. Critics argue the pact has failed to ensure lasting stability or address underlying communal grievances.

Manipur has remained volatile following large-scale ethnic clashes that erupted last year, displacing thousands and straining relations between communities. The latest deaths underscore the fragile security situation and the challenges authorities face in maintaining order and negotiating sustainable peace arrangements in the troubled state.