Peace is Manipur is still elusive eight months since ethnic violence broke out (File)
Imphal:
A village defence volunteer was killed, and four others were injured in a gunfight between two armed groups in Manipur today.
The police said the gunfight broke out at a location that lies between the eastern periphery of the state capital Imphal and Kangpokpi district, 40 km apart.
The injured people were taken to a hospital in Imphal.
The two rival armed groups retreated after security forces rushed to the area, sources said.
One of the injured people was hit by a bomb shrapnel on the face, while another was hit in the thigh, a police officer said.
More details are awaited.
Manipur has not fully recovered from the ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023 between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis over disagreements on land, resources, political representation, and affirmative action policies.
The state government and the Centre also face questions over why the Manipur crisis has been dragging on for eight months, despite the presence of at least 60,000 central security forces.