NEW DELHI: Two Indian paramilitary soldiers were killed on Monday in an ambush by armed men in the violence-hit northeastern state of Manipur, officials said, as fresh clashes underscored the fragile security situation in the region.
The two personnel, belonging to the paramilitary Assam Rifles force, were killed in an ambush in Ukhrul district.
Ukhrul district is predominantly inhabited by the Christian Naga community.
The latest attack came amid renewed violence in Manipur, where a 56-year-old woman and her eight-year-old daughter were injured in a gunfight between two armed groups in Kangpokpi district on Sunday, according to police.
Police said the exchange of fire began at around 5:10 pm in Thingkhogjang village near the Imphal-Silchar National Highway.
In a nearby village, at least three houses were set ablaze during the violence.
The incidents follow fresh ethnic clashes reported last week, when more than 30 village houses were burned in Kamjong and Noney districts.
According to Indian media reports, members of the Naga and Kuki communities accused each other of carrying out the arson attacks, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes.
Violence continues despite President’s Rule
The latest unrest highlights continuing instability in Manipur despite the state remaining under President’s Rule.
Internet services were suspended for months during the outbreak of violence in 2023, while around 60,000 people were displaced, according to government figures. Thousands remain unable to return to their homes because of continuing tensions.
India’s Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over the latest violence, saying the security situation in Manipur continued to deteriorate.
Writing on X, Gandhi said Manipur had been “burning for years” and that homes had once again been reduced to ashes “in the fire of hatred and violence”.
“Even with two governments and President’s Rule, the conflict is only deepening. Thousands have lost their lives, countless families have been shattered — the unbearable agony Manipur is enduring is hard even to imagine,” he wrote.
Gandhi accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pursuing divisive policies based on religion, caste, language, region and identity. He also criticised Modi for failing to show empathy towards the people of Manipur and called for national unity.
Long-running ethnic conflict
Manipur has experienced recurring ethnic violence since May 2023, when clashes erupted between the predominantly Hindu Meitei community and the mainly Christian Kuki-Zo community.
According to the information provided, more than 250 people have been killed since the violence began in 2023, while over 60,000 have been displaced. Reports also say nearly 8,000 homes have been destroyed and hundreds of churches damaged during the unrest.
