Imphal, Sep 26 Suspected militants shot dead two Naga civilians and injured two others in Manipur’s Senapati district on Saturday, officials said.
The incident took place around 3 pm at Kalajan village in the Naga-majority district.
Officials had earlier said that the incident took place at Kalenjang village in Kangpokpi district.
The deceased have been identified as Rocky Mao and Kumar Poumai.
The injured, identified as 33-year-old Adani Manio and 49-year-old Ashiho Sani, were taken to a private hospital in Senapati district for treatment.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Senapati District Hospital for post-mortem, officials said.
Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh strongly condemned the killing of two civilians and called it a “Cowardly act of violence”.
Former chief minister N Biren Singh also condemned the killings and said there have been more than 60 murders this year.
In a post on X, Biren Singh said, “The killing of Rocky from Chaowainamai village and Kumar from Laii Shirafii village is a matter of grave concern. Armed militants entered their homes and shot them dead while they were asleep. These were civilians who deserved to live without fear.”
He asked, “How long are we going to keep counting bodies instead of holding those responsible accountable and bringing the deteriorating law and order situation under control?”
The killings took place barely an hour before the United Naga Council announced its decision to suspend its four-month-old economic blockade along the national highways in the state.
On September 24 night, four Tangkhul Naga civilians were shot dead by suspected militants from Myanmar at Pilong village in Kamjong district near the international border.
At least 13 people have been killed in separate gun attacks allegedly carried out by suspected militants in September in Tamenglong, Kangpokpi, Noney and Kamjong districts.
(PTI News)
