Self-styled commander of Kuki-based outfit shot dead in Manipur

A self-styled town commander of a Kuki-based underground outfit was found shot dead near the Anglo-Kuki War Centenary Gate, close to Leisang in Churachandpur in Manipur in the early hours of Tuesday.
The commander was identified as Seikhohao from Kaprang village in Churachandpur district. Police said he was the town commander of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA).
According to the police, the incident occurred around 12:15 am on Tuesday, and he was found shot dead approximately 1.5 km from Torbung Bungalow in Churachandpur.
The district police recovered the body, and it has been sent to the Churachandpur Medical College morgue.
The police are yet to determine who is behind the crime.
The ethnic violence between the Meitei and the Kuki community, which began last year, escalated recently. The violence first began on May last year after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Since then, over 220 people belonging to both the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel have been killed in the violence.