Two Killed, Six Injured in Factional Clashes Between ZUF Groups in Manipur’s Noney District
Two cadres were killed and six others injured in suspected factional clashes between the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and its splinter groups — ZUF-Jenchui and ZUF-Kamson — in Manipur’s Noney district over the past 24 hours, officials said.
Fresh gunfire erupted around 6 a.m. on Saturday between Nungtek Part II and Haochong, about 5 km northeast of Noney town. Security forces later confirmed that a ZUF-J cadre, identified as Jangailung (29), a self-styled 2nd Lieutenant from Muktina village, was killed, while six others were injured and evacuated to hospitals in Imphal.
The attack, suspected to have been carried out by ZUF-K cadres, involved heavy firing and explosions. The incident followed another clash on Friday at Oktan village under Haochong sub-division, where Dingtiplung Gonmei alias Nguiba Gonmei, the self-styled chief secretary of ZUF-K, was killed.
Authorities fear further escalation of factional violence in the Noney-Haochong area. The Zeliangrong United Front, an armed underground outfit, had entered into a tripartite Cessation of Operations (CoO) agreement with the Centre and the Manipur government in December 2022. A Joint Monitoring Group was formed under the pact to oversee compliance with ground rules.
