Tensions in Manipur escalated further on Thursday (August 27) after four Naga civilians were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kangpokpi district.

Another person was injured in the attack, while one individual was reported missing, prompting the United Naga Council (UNC) to call for a shutdown and announce a day of mourning across Naga-inhabited areas.

According to The Hindu, the attack took place between Makui Ashang and Thanamba Naga villages. No organisation had claimed responsibility for the killings at the time of reporting.

The UNC, however, accused Kuki armed groups of carrying out the attack, naming the Kuki National Front (KNF), KNF (Presidential) and Kuki Revolutionary Army. The three groups are among those that signed the Suspension of Operation agreement with the Union government in 2008.

The apex Naga body identified those killed as Tadsongbou Ringkangmai, Mariakdibou Wijunamai, Anil Wijunamai and Wisobou Charenamai. It said Gaikamang Ringkangmai was injured, while Japou M.K. remained missing.

Condemning the killings, the UNC described the attack as “barbaric and calculated”. It termed the incident a “direct challenge to peace, the Indo-Naga peace process, and to the very existence of Nagas in our ancestral lands”.

The council appealed to the Naga community to remain vigilant and united in the face of what it described as “such external threats.”

Holding the authorities responsible for failing to prevent the attack, the UNC described the incident as a “complete security failure” and demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team to investigate the killings and identify those responsible.

Manipur chief minister Yumnan Khemchand Singh and home minister Govindas Konthoujam also condemned the attack, describing it as “senseless violence” that “strikes at our collective efforts to restore peace and normalcy”.

The killings triggered protests and mourning in Naga-majority areas. People in Senapati district observed a shutdown following the attack.

The UNC also announced a one-day ‘genna’ across Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur on Friday (August 28) in memory of those killed. The traditional observance involves a period of strict prohibition, rest and community worship.

The attack and the competing allegations surrounding it threaten to add another layer of tension to Manipur's already fragile security situation.

With no group having claimed responsibility, the UNC's demand for an independent and thorough investigation is likely to become central to efforts to establish responsibility for the killings and prevent further escalation.