Imphal/Churachandpur, June 20: A tragic event unfolded in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Thursday, where an elderly woman from the Kuki-Zo community lost her life during a clash between security forces and armed individuals, according to police reports.

The confrontation began when security personnel initiated a search operation following an incident where a Meitei farmer sustained gunshot injuries while tending to his fields in Bishnupur district, after shots rang out from the nearby hills.

Authorities stated that security forces advanced into the Langchingmanbi and Heichanglok areas to locate the assailants.

During the operation, security forces encountered gunfire from unidentified armed men and responded accordingly, as reported by the police.

In the midst of this exchange, the woman, identified as Hoikholhing, the spouse of the village chief from Langchingmanbi, was discovered deceased with a gunshot wound.

Her remains have been transported to the Churachandpur District Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Authorities confirmed that a case has been filed, and investigations are currently underway.

Security forces are actively conducting search operations in the area.

Officials emphasized their commitment to apprehending those responsible for the incident swiftly, urging the community to maintain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information.

The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) condemned the incident, labeling it as 'brutal' and a stark reminder of the ongoing ethnic violence faced by their community.

In a statement, KWOHR accused Meitei militants of being responsible for the woman's death, asserting that this act of violence is part of a broader campaign targeting the Kuki people.

In response to the killing, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) announced an indefinite shutdown in Churachandpur as a form of protest.

In a strongly worded statement, the ITLF indicated that the shutdown would serve as both a mourning gesture and a protest against the violence.

Earlier that day, another farmer was shot while working in the same vicinity, with reports indicating that armed individuals fired from the hills.

Ningthoujam Biren, who was hospitalized due to gunshot wounds, recounted, 'I was in the fields when I heard five shots fired.' Fellow farmers corroborated that the shots originated from the nearby hills.

The expansive farmlands of Phubala, located on the outskirts of the Imphal valley, are bordered by hills in Churachandpur district.

In light of the incident, local residents organized a shutdown in Phubala, which impeded the movement of security forces in certain areas of the district.