Two killed in Manipur attacks; rival Naga community's bodies found after hostage situation

At least two people from the Kuki community died in attacks by armed men in India's restive Manipur state on Thursday. The violence occurred a day after authorities found the bodies of six men from the rival Naga community, who were reportedly taken hostage.

The northeastern state has a history of conflict between the Kuki and Naga tribes, primarily over competing claims to ethnic homelands. Tensions recently escalated after a Naga man was allegedly assaulted by men from the Kuki community in February. The subsequent killing of three Kuki pastors in May, allegedly by Naga armed groups, led to a series of retaliatory abductions by both sides.

Most hostages have been released over the past month, but the six Naga men remained missing. Thursday's attack, which began around daybreak, saw seven houses torched, resulting in two deaths and two injuries, according to a police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. A Kuki civil organization identified the victims as community leaders involved with the church.

Police have not identified the perpetrators or their community affiliation, but described the situation as "tense and volatile." The region has experienced prolonged ethnic fighting before, with similar clashes between Nagas and Kukis in 1993 resulting in hundreds of deaths. The Kuki community has also been engaged in conflict with the predominantly Hindu Meitei community since May 2023, over economic benefits and job quotas, a dispute that has claimed around 260 lives and displaced over 60,000 people.

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the situation remains "tense and volatile".