5 militants killed as rival Kuki-Chin insurgent groups clash in Manipur
The clash reportedly involved cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) and the Chin Kuki Mizo Army (CKMA) — both non-signatories to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre.In 2008, the SoO agreement was started by the Government of India through an interlocutor chosen by the home ministry with the aim of finding a political solution for the Kuki population in Manipur.According to sources, the deceased militants have been identified as Alex, Seiboi, Pongba, Ringo, and Rambo, though it remains unclear which group they belonged to.Security and intelligence officials believe the gunfight was the result of rising competition between the two groups over territorial control and influence in the hill districts of Manipur and the adjoining Indo-Myanmar border.Both UKNA and CKMA are said to be newly formed outfits, composed mainly of splinter elements from older Chin-Kuki insurgent factions.Tensions between the groups have been building, particularly after UKNA was allegedly involved in the assassination of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Kuki National Army (KNA) — a SoO signatory group — on June 30. That killing triggered unrest and sparked a wider rift within the Kuki-Chin militant network, insiders say.Following the clash, security agencies have intensified surveillance and movement tracking in and around the area, although no official statement has yet been issued by the Manipur Police or central paramilitary forces regarding the incident or any further security action.As of Tuesday evening, the atmosphere in Deiveijang and the surrounding forested region was highly tense.The incident adds to the growing complexity of Manipur's already volatile security situation, marked by fractured insurgent loyalties and intermittent armed violence.Manipur has witnessed one of the bloodiest episodes in the form of ethnic violence between the members of the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities. In the violence that began in May 2023, over 250 people have been killed and over 60,000 have been displaced.- EndsMust Watch
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