Manipur on Edge as Fresh Gunfight Rocks Koutruk Village

Imphal: A violent clash erupted between village volunteers representing two opposing communities in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Sunday morning.

According to police reports, dozens of armed men from the adjoining hills in Kangpokpi district opened fire on Koutruk village, located on the outskirts of Imphal Valley. Bullets struck civilian homes, prompting the evacuation of women, children, and elderly residents to safer areas.

The attack reportedly included locally manufactured mortar shells known as “Pumpi,” causing panic among villagers. Village volunteers in Koutruk retaliated, escalating the situation into a full-blown gunfight.

Security personnel are being rushed to the scene to restore order and bring the clash under control.

Koutruk village has become a flashpoint for ethnic violence since clashes erupted between Meitei communities from Imphal Valley and Kuki communities from the surrounding hills in May 2023.

The ongoing conflict has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands of residents.