Kangpokpi | Tension resurfaced in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Thursday after armed assailants allegedly ambushed Naga civilians along the IT Road, killing at least four people and injuring one, while another person was reported missing, sources said.

The incident reportedly took place around 8:30 am between Makui Ashang and Thanamba Naga, an area along the IT Road that is inhabited by Naga communities.

According to sources, the victims were travelling along the route when they came under attack from armed assailants. Four members of the Naga community were reportedly killed in the ambush, while another sustained injuries. One person remains unaccounted for following the incident.

The attack has triggered fresh tension in Kangpokpi, which has witnessed periodic incidents of violence since ethnic clashes broke out across Manipur in May 2023. Security forces are expected to step up vigil in the area following the incident. However, police had not officially confirmed the attack or the reported casualties at the time of filing this report.

The identities of those killed and injured, as well as the circumstances leading to the alleged ambush, were not immediately known. Further details are awaited as security agencies assess the situation and efforts are reportedly underway to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing person.