Funeral turns into fresh bloodshed as one killed, two injured in Manipur's Lasan

Imphal, June 13: A day of mourning turned into another chapter of violence in conflict-hit Manipur on Saturday when a Kuki village volunteer was killed and two others were injured in a fresh firing incident near Lasan village, underscoring the fragile security situation in the state’s hill districts.

The incident occurred around 8:40 am in the sensitive border area between Lasan Kuki village in Tamenglong district and Langka Liangmei Naga village in Kangpokpi district, where tensions have remained high in recent days.

According to sources, armed assailants allegedly opened fire on Kuki village volunteers, killing one person on the spot and injuring two others. The injured were shifted for medical treatment.

The latest violence comes just four days after the killing of Haogin Lhouvum, a farmer from Lasan village, who was shot dead while working in a paddy field on June 9. His death sparked widespread outrage among Kuki organisations and triggered a shutdown across Kangpokpi district. Community groups had condemned the killing and demanded justice, while hundreds gathered to receive his mortal remains and participate in protest programmes.

On Saturday, despite persistent rain, hundreds of mourners assembled to bid farewell to Lhouvum at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Phaijang. Family members, village leaders, civil society organisations and residents attended the funeral, which was meant to be a moment of collective grief and remembrance.

Instead, fresh gunfire shattered the atmosphere, further deepening fears that retaliatory violence could continue to fuel instability in the region.

The incident also comes at a time when Manipur is witnessing renewed tensions linked to recent hostage-related incidents and killings involving Naga and Kuki communities. Security agencies remain on high alert amid concerns that isolated incidents could trigger wider unrest in already sensitive areas.

More than three years after ethnic violence first erupted in Manipur, thousands remain displaced and several hill districts continue to grapple with insecurity, mistrust and recurring cycles of violence.

Security forces have intensified operations in the area, while authorities are monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation.

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