A young village volunteer, Demkhogin Khongsai, was killed amidst escalating ethnic violence in Manipur's Imphal East district. The ongoing conflict, stemming from the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status, has resulted in over 200 casualties and continues to disrupt the region's social fabric.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a 25-year-old village volunteer, Demkhogin Khongsai, lost his life in a gunfight between two rival communities in Manipur's Imphal East district. Two others, including an Army officer, were injured in the skirmish that occurred near the Kuki-Zomi-dominated Kangpokpi border.
The incident unfolded on the night of February 14, 2024, adding to the mounting tension in the region following the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status and subsequent clashes between various ethnic groups have claimed over 200 lives, leaving an indelible scar on the state's social fabric.