2 more Naga men killed as ethnic violence flares up in Manipur again

Manipur violence claims another life as gunmen strike Senapati village

Two Mao Naga men were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at Kalenjang village in Manipur's Senapati district Saturday afternoon, with two others wounded, in the latest escalation in a Naga-Kuki conflict that has claimed more than 40 lives since Feb.The shooting took place under Senapati police station around 2.30pm, shortly after CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh left a function about 30km away. It came two days after four Tangkhul Naga men were killed allegedly by Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (B) at Pilong village near the international border in Kamjong district.The Kalenjang and Pilong killings are part of a series of Naga-Kuki clashes that began in Feb, shortly after Singh's govt took charge.

At least 21 people - 11 Nagas and 10 Kukis, including a pregnant woman - have been killed since Aug 27. The toll is separate from the Meitei-Kuki conflict, which has killed over 300.Both the communities have accused militant groups from the other side of the attacks. Police have said several such allegations are under investigation and have not been independently verified.

The killings came as United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Naga tribes in Manipur, called off its 131-day economic blockade of NH-2 and NH-37 after a meeting with home ministry and Manipur govt at the BSF Frontier headquarters in Guwahati Saturday.

The blockade followed the abduction of six Liangmai Naga civilians in Kangpokpi district.Manipur Congress president Okram Ibobi Singh accused BJP-headed NDA govts in the state and Centre of remaining "silent spectators" to civilian killings. "Govt is behaving as if it is not concerned about the killings of civilians of any community," the former three-time CM said. "We strongly condemn the killings of innocent civilians from Naga, Kuki and Meitei communities," he said, while questioning security along the Myanmar border.