An official probe has found that villagers in the area had complained to local militant groups that some people from the Meitei community were regularly felling trees and taking away wood in the Khongbal Sunulok Hills, along the Imphal East-Kangpokpi border, and had asked them to intervene.

Following this, some militants, along with local village volunteers, are suspected to have stopped a vehicle carrying Meitei men, who were allegedly in the area to collect wood. On seeing gun-wielding militants and village volunteers, they tried to flee, but the gunmen opened fire, killing three, officials said.

While officials suspect involvement of the Kuki National Front (Nehlun) in the killing of the Meitei men, it has denied any role. A security establishment officer said: “It appears the initial intention was to scare the Meiteis or at best to detain them and make them pay for their release.…