Guwahati: Three militants were killed and at least four others injured in a gunfight between rival Naga groups in Manipur’s Noney district Wednesday morning. Hours later, suspected militants opened fire on passenger and goods vehicles along the Imphal-Ukhrul road in Ukhrul district but there were no casualties.The gunfight occurred between Zeliangrong United Front-Jenchui (ZUF-J) and a combined team of Zeliangrong United Front-Kamson (ZUF-K) and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) at Taodaijang village.Two of the dead belonged to ZUF-J, a cessation of operations (CoO) agreement signatory with the Centre, and one to ZUF-K.The clash follows a statement from ZUF-K on Nov 1, accusing ZUF-J of collaborating with security forces. ZUF-J signed a cessation of operation with the Centre in 2022.NSCN-IM, headquartered at Hebron in Nagaland, is a long-standing pan-Naga armed and political group that seeks a unified homeland, “Nagalim”, covering Naga-inhabited areas of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Myanmar. It has a significant presence in Manipur, the home state of its supremo, Th Muivah.ZUF was formed in 2011 to represent the Zeliangrong people, who are also a major Naga community comprising the Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei, as a regional outfit and operates primarily in localised pockets, mainly in Tamenglong and Noney districts in Manipur.In the second incident, at about 4.45 pm, suspected militants opened fire on passenger vehicles and a goods-laden truck near TM Kasom village in Ukhrul district. The vehicles were headed to Ukhrul from Imphal and had been escorted by security forces up to Litan, after which the personnel withdrew.According to reports, the firing using sophisticated arms reportedly lasted nearly 10 minutes. Passengers took cover, and all occupants escaped without physical injuries.In Kangpokpi district, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, extended its total shutdown by 48 hours, until 5 pm on Nov 6. It accused govt of failing to act decisively over the killing of two Kuki-Zo civilians and to implement its charter of demands.The violence comes a day after chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh directed security agencies to identify active armed groups, excluding those engaged in peace talks with the state govt, suspected of involvement in the recent violence. He asked agencies, including the Army and central paramilitary forces, to report on the groups’ involvement at the earliest and warned that govt would consider declaring such groups unlawful if their involvement in violence against civilians is established.Manipur govt also ordered setting up peace committees in all districts, chaired by district magistrates, to restore peace and normalcy. The move followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s query to chief minister on communal harmony efforts. It is the second such initiative after a 2023 committee set up by the MHA failed to deliver results.The committees will include the SP, sub-divisional officers, department officials, community leaders, civil society groups, journalists, doctors, teachers and retired officials. They will facilitate inter-community dialogue, identify tensions and rumours, counter misinformation, recommend confidence-building measures and help restore safe movement and essential services.They will meet at least fortnightly, record proceedings and report to the home department. They will be consultative bodies and cannot exercise the powers of the district administration or police.
